Hollywood star Tom Cruise has marked 40 years of his film The Color of Money, recalling how he studied the works of co-star Paul Newman and filmmaker Martin Scorsese before working with the two cinema legends on the 1986 drama.
Cruise shared a post on his X handle on Saturday, featuring pictures from the film and reflecting on the experience of working with Newman and Scorsese.
“40 years since making The Color of Money. I had the privilege 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,” he wrote.
Directed by Scorsese, the film follows retired pool shark “Fast Eddie” Felson, played by Newman, as he mentors a young pool player portrayed by Cruise. The film went on to earn over USD 52.29 million at the global box office.
Cruise said he had created a “personal study course” by watching the films of Newman and Scorsese in chronological order before meeting them for the film. He repeated the exercise after being cast in the project.
“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 the point in time. After being cast in ‘The Color of Money’, I once again studied all of their films in sequence,” he said.
“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,” the actor added.
“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. It was a pleasure and an honour to be part of this film with you all! I have carried this experience and knowledge with me my entire career,” he added.
The film earned Newman the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Fast Eddie Felson.
The Color of Money also featured Forest Whitaker, John Turturro and Vito D'Ambrosio, among others.