Claim: Tom Cruise stars in The Color of Money.

The Color of Money is a 1986 American drama film directed by Martin Scorsese from a screenplay by Richard Price , based on the 1984 novel of the same name by Walter Tevis . The film stars Paul Newman and Tom Cruise , with Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio , Helen Shaver , and John Turturro in supporting roles . The film featured an original score by Robbie Robertson .   Newman won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance , his first Oscar win after eight nominations , seven of them for Best Actor .   The film continues the story of pool hustler and Edward `` Fast Eddie '' Felson from Tevis ' first novel , The Hustler -LRB- 1959 -RRB- , with Newman reprising his role from the 1961 film adaptation . The film begins more than 25 years after the events of the previous film , with Eddie retired from the pool circuit . Although Tevis did author a screenplay for the film , adapting the storyline from his novel , the filmmakers decided not to use it , instead crafting an entirely different story under Tevis ' title .   The Color of Money was released by Touchstone Pictures .