Robert Rossen

After "naming names" in 1953 Rossen was allowed to continue working, but chose not to return to Hollywood. His subsequent output was uneven, but not without successes. "The Hustler" (1961) is a moody poolroom drama with its roots in an unproduced Rossen play, "Corner Pocket"; it was nominated for Academy Awards in every major category and inspired a Martin Scorsese-directed sequel, "The Color of Money" (1986), which again starred Paul Newman. "Lilith" (1964) is a tragic study of obsession set in a mental hospital and starring Warren Beatty and Jean Seberg; shot, like "The Hustler," by Eugene Shuftan, it was dismissed by US critics of that time of its release but is now regarded by many as its director's masterpiece.