Hustle

Hustle

Year: 1975

Runtime: 120 min

Language: English

Director: Robert Aldrich

DramaMysteryThrillerCrime

The tragic death of teenager Gloria Hollinger on a Los Angeles beach triggers a complex investigation. Lieutenant Phil Gaines must navigate a web of corruption and deceit as he uncovers the dark secrets hidden beneath the city’s sun-drenched facade. Powerful forces conspire to obstruct the truth, forcing Gaines to confront the dangerous underbelly of Los Angeles and the people who control it.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Hustle (1975)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Hustle (1975). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1970s

Set in the 1970s, the film reflects the era's social attitudes, fashion, and urban atmosphere. This period was marked by significant cultural shifts, economic challenges, and a gritty approach to crime and justice, which influence the tone and themes of the story.

Location

Los Angeles, Italy

The movie takes place predominantly in Los Angeles, a major city known for its Hollywood industry, diverse neighborhoods, and vibrant urban life. It also features scenes set in Rome, Italy, famous for its rich history, ancient architecture, and cultural significance. The contrast between the two locations highlights the characters' pursuits of both personal and professional lives.

🌴 Urban 🎭 Glamorous 🌊 Coastal

Last Updated: July 29, 2025 at 06:43

Main Characters – Hustle (1975)

Meet the key characters of Hustle (1975), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Lt. Phil Gaines (Burt Reynolds)

Lt. Gaines is a dedicated but morally conflicted police officer who struggles to uphold justice in a corrupt environment. His internal conflicts and moments of vulnerability reveal a complex character torn between duty and personal feelings.

🚓 Law Enforcement 💔 Inner Conflict 🥃 Drinking

Nicole Britton (Catherine Deneuve)

Nicole is a high-priced call girl with a romantic relationship with Gaines. She is portrayed as sophisticated and aware of her profession's challenges, seeking stability and genuine connection amidst her complex life.

🎭 Romance 💃 Femme Fatale 💼 Professional

Marty Hollinger (Ben Johnson)

Marty is Gloria's grieving father, driven by a desire for justice and closure. He is emotionally fragile, haunted by past trauma, and becomes increasingly determined to uncover the truth about his daughter’s death.

🧓 Grief 🔎 Determination 😢 Vulnerability

Last Updated: July 29, 2025 at 06:43

Major Themes – Hustle (1975)

Explore the central themes of Hustle (1975), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️‍♂️ Justice

The film explores complex notions of justice, where legal boundaries are occasionally blurred. Characters grapple with moral dilemmas, justice served through conventional means or extrajudicial actions, reflecting the moral ambiguity of the era’s crime-fighting landscape.

💔 Loss & Betrayal

Loss and betrayal are central to the narrative, as characters face personal tragedies and disloyalty. Gloria's death, Marty's heartbreak, and Nicole's professional conflicts emphasize emotional pain and the harsh realities of their lives.

🎭 Corruption

Corruption permeates the story, from mob lawyers to law enforcement, illustrating the pervasive influence of the underworld and the compromises characters make. This theme highlights the morally gray areas in pursuit of personal or professional gain.

Last Updated: July 29, 2025 at 06:43

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Corrupt City Noir Movies like Hustle

A cynical detective uncovers systemic rot while investigating a single crime.If you liked the procedural investigation and systemic corruption in Hustle, you'll find similar stories here. This thread gathers gritty neo-noir and crime thrillers where a single case exposes the dark underbelly of an entire city, featuring morally ambiguous detectives and bleak, tragic conclusions.

grittysuspensefulcorruptcynicaltensesombermelancholicdoomed

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern begins with an inciting crime that serves as a key to a locked door. The protagonist's journey is one of disillusionment, moving from a belief in the system to understanding its fundamental corruption. The plot unfolds through a steady, procedural pace, introducing a web of interconnected characters and motives. The climax often involves a confrontation that reveals the depth of the rot, leading to an ending where the protagonist may survive but is forever scarred, or where justice is sacrificed for a pyrrhic victory.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a specific combination of a procedural plot structure, a dark and cynical tone, and a central theme of institutional decay. The viewing experience is defined by a steady build of tension, a heavy emotional weight, and the sobering realization that the enemy is too big to defeat.

Doomed Character Tragedies Similar to Hustle

Stories where flawed characters are pulled into a tragic spiral by forces beyond their control.Fans of Hustle's heavy emotional weight and tragic character arcs will appreciate these films. This selection features movies about morally ambiguous individuals whose lives unravel due to corruption, loss, or doomed relationships, leading to somber and deeply affecting endings.

tragicmelancholicdramaticsombergrittydoomedheavycorrupt

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a character-centric arc of decline. It begins with a triggering event—often a personal loss or a fatal mistake—that sets the protagonist on an inescapable path. The story explores their internal conflict and deteriorating circumstances as they grapple with impossible choices. Secondary characters, such as a loved one or a fleeting romantic interest, often become casualties of this spiral. The structure is less about solving a mystery and more about witnessing an inevitable collapse, culminating in a finale that emphasizes sorrow and the high price of the journey.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their profound emotional weight and focus on tragic character destinies. They share a dark, melancholic tone and a steady pacing that lets the tragedy unfold with devastating impact. The core similarity is the experience of watching a relatable, if flawed, character be consumed by a situation they cannot overcome.

Unlock the Full Story of Hustle

Don't stop at just watching — explore Hustle in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Hustle is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Hustle Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Hustle, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Hustle Summary

Hustle Timeline

Track the full timeline of Hustle with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Hustle Timeline

Hustle Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Hustle that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Hustle Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Hustle

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Hustle: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Hustle

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Discover movies like Hustle that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.