The Man with the Golden Arm
The Man with the Golden Arm
Sinatra’s Oscar-nominated performance depicts the nightmare of drug addiction
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Synopsis
Sinatra plays Frankie Machine - an expert card dealer and jazz drummer recently out of prison, where he kicked his heroin habit. The habit kicks him back on the outside, however, when his plans to get on with a big band career are thwarted by his scheming invalid wife’s demands for him to return to high stakes gambling. Played by Eleanor Parker, her bad intentions almost result in Machine unjustly taking a murder rap, but Kim Novak – as Molly – comes to his aid and gets him on the right track.
Cast & Crew
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM
Produced & Directed by Otto Preminger
Screenplay by Walter Newman and Lewis Meltzer
From the novel by Nelson Algren
Cast: Frank Sinatra, Eleanor Parker, Kim Novak, Darren McGavin, Arnold Stant
Cinematography: Sam Leavitt
Editing: Louis R. Loeffler
Original Music by Elmer Bernstein
Description
B&W
119 minutes
“…this is a gripping, fascinating film,
expertly produced and directed and performed with marked conviction by
Frank Sinatra as the drug slave.”
- Variety, from a 1955 review
Frank Sinatra received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his riveting portrayal of Frankie Machine in the Otto Preminger-directed drama THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM. Machine is an expert card dealer and jazz drummer recently out of prison, where he kicked his heroin addiction. The habit kicks him back on the outside, however, when his plans to get on with a big band career are thwarted by his scheming invalid wife’s demands for him to return to high stakes gambling. Played by Eleanor Parker, her bad intentions almost result in Machine unjustly taking a murder rap, but Kim Novak – as Molly – comes to his aid and gets him on the right track.
Based on the Nelson Algren novel, THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM’s on-screen depiction of drug abuse – including Sinatra’s harrowing scenes as Machine goes cold turkey – defied production codes of the day, and the Motion Picture Association of America initially refused to certify the film. Producer-Director Otto Preminger released it anyway, and it paved the way for later depictions of narcotic terror including A Hatful Of Rain, Panic In Needle Park, Drugstore Cowboy, Rush and Blow. In addition to recognition for Sinatra’s performance, the film was Oscar-nominated for art direction and for Elmer Bernstein’s evocative score.
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM was originally released in 1955, and is widely considered one of Sinatra’s best film performances. It came out two years after From Here To Eternity, for which he won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Warner Home Video’s DVD release of this classic film presents special features including: the new featurette Shoot Up/Shoot Out: The Story Behind The Man With The Golden Arm; the original theatrical trailer; and English and French subtitles.
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Brilliant Acting from Sinatra
"Man With the Golden Arm" is my second-favorite Sinatra film, after "The Manchurian Candidate". Frank's acting in "Man With the Golden Arm" is brilliant, on a par with the best acting by Marlon Brando, and James Dean, who was still alive and acting when this film was being made. Shot in b & w, which is perfect for its seedy, film noir-like settings, with a groundbreaking jazz score, by Elmer Berstein, this film broke all sorts of Hollywood conventions at the time. Frank's performance is absolutely searing, from the heroin-withdrawal scenes to the subtle look of craving and need in his eyes, Frank convincingly portrays a junkie. However, Frank also comes across as tender, even empathetic to the character's plight; here, the drug is the demon, not the user, which was an incredibly brave statement, circa 1955. Sure, some of this film looks dated, but that is due to it being shot on a set, rather than on location (the setting is Chicago), due to budget constraints. This film is one of my very favorite dramas of the 1950's, along with "Twelve Angry Men", "The Sweet Smell of Success", "In A Lonely Place", and "On the Waterfront". "Man With the Golden Arm" shares those films' grit, intensity, and realistic qualities. This is a MUST-see MUST-own DVD for anyone who loves good films and/or is even remotely interested in the lifetime of artistic works by Frank Sinatra.