Frank Sinatra shows his wide acting range portraying a drug addict in “The Man with the Golden Arm.” The taboo subject of drug addiction was rarely depicted on the big screen in the 1950’s. Director Otto Preminger (“Whirlpool” 1950) broke that taboo and did an outstanding job of bringing this gritty production to life. The well-penned screenplay by Walter Newman and Lewis Meltzer was adapted from the 1949 novel by Nelson Algren.
The role of Frankie Machine is one of Sinatra’s best performances in a film career that lasted from 1941 to 1995. The scene where the future Chairman of the Board went through detoxification was especially stunning. It earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, with the film’s two other Oscar nods going for Best Art Direction/Black-and-White and Best Musical Scoring (Elmer Bernstein).
Darrin McGavin also turned in a strong offering as Frankie’s drug supplier. Other co-stars include Eleanor Parker, Kim Novak, Arnold Stang, Robert Strauss, John Conte, George E. Stone, and Doro Merande as Vi. “The Man with the Golden Arm” received a strong response from movie-goers at the box office for producer Otto Preminger, Carlyle Productions, and United Artists.
The Man with the Golden Arm (1955)
cinema
My Review
Frank Sinatra shows his wide acting range portraying a drug addict in “The Man with the Golden Arm.” The taboo subject of drug addiction was rarely depicted on the big screen in the 1950’s. Director Otto Preminger (“Whirlpool” 1950) broke that taboo and did an outstanding job of bringing this gritty production to life. The well-penned screenplay by Walter Newman and Lewis Meltzer was adapted from the 1949 novel by Nelson Algren.
The role of Frankie Machine is one of Sinatra’s best performances in a film career that lasted from 1941 to 1995. The scene where the future Chairman of the Board went through detoxification was especially stunning. It earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, with the film’s two other Oscar nods going for Best Art Direction/Black-and-White and Best Musical Scoring (Elmer Bernstein).
Darrin McGavin also turned in a strong offering as Frankie’s drug supplier. Other co-stars include Eleanor Parker, Kim Novak, Arnold Stang, Robert Strauss, John Conte, George E. Stone, and Doro Merande as Vi. “The Man with the Golden Arm” received a strong response from movie-goers at the box office for producer Otto Preminger, Carlyle Productions, and United Artists.