Success often feels like a double-edged sword. While becoming famous opens doors to unique possibilities, there’s always a chance you might forget who you are and take what comes for granted in unanticipated ways. What’s the old saying? Never forget your roots? Judging by his latest post on X, Tom Cruise is well aware of where he came from and who helped make him one of the biggest actors in Hollywood history.
While reflecting on his 1986 psychological drama, The Color of Money, Cruise penned an appreciative tribute to his co-star, Paul Newman, and the film’s director, Martin Scorsese, praising their work ethic, unparalleled vision, and professionalism.
Honoring the Masters
“40 years since making The Color of Money. 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,” Cruise wrote.
“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. After being cast in The Color of Money, I once again studied all of their films in sequence. 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.
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. To Marty, Paul, and the enormously talented cast and crew, it was a pleasure and an honor to be part of this film with you all! I have carried this experience and knowledge with me my entire career.”
Passing the Torch
Directed by Scorsese, The Color of Money reignited the swagger of Newman’s Fast Eddie Felson, pulling the disgraced pool shark out of retirement and pairing him with Cruise’s electric young hotshot, Vincent Lauria. The result was a masterclass in screen acting—a tense duel of egos and mentorship that helped define the early trajectory of Cruise’s career.
A Legacy Built on Craft
That relentless dedication to learning from visionary auteur directors has remained a cornerstone of Cruise’s four-decade career. While not every artistic risk pays off at the box office, as seen with the difficult theatrical run of Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Digger, Cruise’s respect for the craft and the legends who shaped it remains unchanged. Four decades after studying Scorsese and Newman’s filmographies from start to finish, he still holds fast to the gratitude and discipline that got him here. We love to see it.
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