Tom Cruise recalls meeting Paul Newman, Scorsese as 'Color of Money' turns 40
Synopsis
Forty years after playing a cocky pool hustler opposite Paul Newman, Tom Cruise has revealed the obsessive preparation behind the role — screening both Newman's and Scorsese's entire filmographies in sequence before even meeting them. The tribute is a rare window into how one of Hollywood's biggest stars quietly built his craft.
Key Takeaways
Tom Cruise marked the 40th anniversary of The Color of Money with a personal tribute on his official social media handle.
Cruise played Vincent Lauria , a young pool hustler, opposite Paul Newman in the 1986 film directed by Martin Scorsese .
Before his first meetings with Newman and Scorsese, Cruise watched each director's and actor's films in chronological sequence as a self-devised study course.
He repeated the exercise once cast, then observed both legends at work on set — an experience he described as invaluable.
Paul Newman won the Academy Award for Best Actor for the film — his only competitive Oscar win.
Tom Cruise has shared a heartfelt tribute marking 40 years since the release of the 1986 sports drama The Color of Money, revealing how his early encounters with director Martin Scorsese and screen legend Paul Newman shaped his entire career. Cruise, who played the brash young pool hustler Vincent Lauria in the film, posted the tribute on his official social media handle as the milestone anniversary was observed on Saturday, 17 October 2026.
The Preparation Behind the Performance
Cruise revealed that long before The Color of Money entered production, he had separately held general meetings with both Newman and Scorsese — encounters that left a lasting impression on the then-emerging actor. To make the most of those interactions, Cruise said he devised a personal study programme, watching each legend's films in chronological order from the start of their respective careers.
'I had the privilege as a young artist, to have a general meeting with Paul Newman and separately with Martin Scorsese years before making this film, where they shared some of their wisdom on cinema. Of course, I'd seen their films, but prior to meeting them for the first time, I set up a personal study course where I would watch their films in sequence from the beginning of their careers, up until that point in time,' Cruise wrote.
On-Set Learning From Two Legends
Once cast in the film, Cruise repeated the exercise — revisiting the entire body of work of both Newman and Scorsese before stepping onto set. The immersive preparation, he noted, paid dividends when he was able to observe them at work in real time during the shoot. 'Having studied their work, then being able to see firsthand these incredible artists, the towering legends of our field, at work on set, I was able to observe their practical application in every aspect of acting and filmmaking from their point of view,' he added.
Gratitude and a Career-Long Legacy
Cruise was emphatic about the debt he owes both men, describing their generosity with knowledge as something he has carried through every subsequent project. 'I will always be grateful for this opportunity and for the generosity that Newman and Scorsese showed me with their knowledge of cinema and insight throughout the entire process,' he wrote. He also extended warm acknowledgement to the wider cast and crew, saying the experience had been both 'a pleasure and an honor.'
About the Film
The Color of Money, directed by Martin Scorsese and released in 1986, is a sequel to the 1961 classic The Hustler. Paul Newman reprised his role as ageing pool shark Fast Eddie Felson, earning him the Academy Award for Best Actor — his only competitive Oscar win. The film is widely regarded as a career touchstone for everyone involved. Notably, it marked one of the earliest high-profile pairings between the then-young Cruise and one of Hollywood's most respected auteurs, a creative rapport that hinted at the blockbuster and prestige trajectories both would pursue in the decades that followed.
Point of View
Archive-deep immersion in a mentor's body of work before a single scene is shot. In an industry now driven by franchise schedules and back-to-back productions, Cruise's account reads almost like a dispatch from another era of Hollywood. That he has maintained this reverence publicly, three decades into global superstardom, is itself a statement about how seriously he takes craft — even as the films he is most associated with are built around spectacle rather than character study.
NationPress
17 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Tom Cruise say about 'The Color of Money' turning 40?
Cruise posted a tribute on his official social media handle marking the film's 40th anniversary, recalling his early meetings with Paul Newman and Martin Scorsese and the personal study programme he undertook to prepare for the role. He described the experience as one he has 'carried with me my entire career.'
What is 'The Color of Money' about?
'The Color of Money' is a 1986 sports drama directed by Martin Scorsese, serving as a sequel to the 1961 film 'The Hustler.' Paul Newman reprised his role as pool shark Fast Eddie Felson, while Tom Cruise played Vincent Lauria, a talented young player Newman's character takes under his wing.
How did Tom Cruise prepare for his role in the film?
Cruise watched both Paul Newman's and Martin Scorsese's complete filmographies in chronological order — first before meeting them individually, and again once he was cast. He then observed both legends at work on set, studying their practical approach to acting and filmmaking firsthand.
Did Paul Newman win an Oscar for 'The Color of Money'?
Yes. Paul Newman won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as Fast Eddie Felson in the film — his only competitive Oscar win after multiple nominations across his career.
When was 'The Color of Money' originally released?
'The Color of Money' was released in 1986, making 2026 its 40th anniversary. The film was directed by Martin Scorsese and starred Paul Newman and Tom Cruise.
