A must see film from the 1950’s! “The Man With The Golden Arm” (1955) – Starring Frank Sinatra, Kim Novak and Eleanor Parker, Produced and Directed by Otto Preminger.

Man with the Golden Arm

Frank Sinatra stars as Franky Machine, a.k.a ‘Dealer’, a.k.a ‘The man with the golden arm’, back room poker legend and recovering heroin addict. It’s 6 months after getting arrested and going through rehab and Franky returns home with a fresh attitude, a new musical passion and a chance to rebuild his life, but in the classic scenario his old life and habits are where he left them and ready to drag him back down.

This film is dirty and hard; heroin addiction, illegal gambling, alcoholics, poverty, psychological games, murder, and all shot through with great acting and dialogue, and a great jazz soundtrack (Elmer Bernstein/Shorty Rodgers & his Giants). At times it feels like a film with a message, but Sinatra shows great acting talent and realism. There are also great moments from Eleanor Parker, Franky’s neurotic, wheel-chair bound wife, and Kim Novak, the beautiful girl downstairs, and I can’t forget ‘Sparrow’ my favourite character.

Watch this film if you want to see the original Trainspotting, but the jazz version set in the post-war depression, or if you want to see if Sinatra can do more in a film than just sing a memorable tune (even if he can’t play the drums!)