In The Man with the Golden Arm, an irritated Kim Novak asks a drug-addled Frank Sinatra some pointed questions.
“Why should you hurt like other people hurt?” she snaps. “Why try to face it like most people do?”
A haggard, unshaven Sinatra is mute during her lecture. He sits slumped, eyes lowered, almost shrivelling into himself. It’s hard to recall another role where Sinatra looks this beaten.
Novak should not be vilified for this haranguing. Her character is in love with Sinatra, and she’s gone to a lot of trouble to help him. But he’s dismissed her advice, and is now asking her to clean up his mess.
You can’t blame her for being upset. After all, his actions have shown her to be a fool.
Kim Novak has a weary love for Sinatra. Image: mubi.com
The Man with the Golden Arm (1956) has been called a “sanitized” version of the 1949 novel by Nelson Algren. It was the first major motion picture to portray heroin use, a No-No in the eyes of the Production Code. But producer/director Otto Preminger defied the Code by proceeding with the controversial (read: unapproved) script, and released the film to critical acclaim.
Sinatra was eager to be involved. Legend has it he agreed to star in the film without fully reading the script, and he visited rehab clinics to study treatments for drug addiction.
His presence lends credibility to this gritty cautionary tale. Sinatra plays a WWII vet who works as a dealer in illegal high-stakes card games. Freshly released from prison, he returns to his seedy Chicago neighbourhood determined to make a new start in life.
But it’s hard to break old patterns. The local drug pusher (Darren McGavin) relentlessly woos Sinatra, his former client. His old “boss” (Robert Strauss) is a gambling hustler who badgers Sinatra into dealing cards again.
Then there is Sinatra’s wife (Eleanor Parker), a bitter, manipulative woman who uses a wheelchair due to injuries from a car accident caused by Sinatra.
That’s a lot of pressure, and it’s not long before Sinatra succumbs to the drugs and the illegal gambling. He’s known as “the man with the golden arm” because he’s the best card dealer in the biz. The name has a dual meaning, however, because his arm is also where he receives heroin injections.
Sinatra is utterly mesmerizing as a doomed man trapped by circumstance and his own decisions.
For example, look at the scene where he’s in a jail holding cell. A college student in the cell starts climbing on the bars, screaming, “Let me out! Gimme a fix! Gimme a fix!” Preminger’s camera centres on Sinatra, who looks terrified and humiliated by this display.
Perhaps his most compelling scene is his self-imposed detox in a locked room. It’s exhausting: Sinatra is agitated, irrational, drinking lots of water; he’s in pain, has the shakes, bites his hand to stop from screaming; he pounds on the door, smashes a chair, demands to be let out.
His performance here is so powerful, even the notoriously grumpy New York Times film critic Bosley Crowther had to admit, “[T]here is nothing more bold or shocking…than…this guy writhing on the floor.”
Sinatra’s performance in The Man with the Golden Arm netted him an Oscar nomination, and deservedly so. If you’ve never seen Frank Sinatra in a demanding dramatic role, you should set aside time for this compelling film.
The Man with the Golden Arm: starring Frank Sinatra, Eleanor Parker, Kim Novak. Directed by Otto Preminger. Written by Walter Newman & Lewis Meltzer. United Artists Corp., 1956, B&W, 121 mins.
This post is part of the Sinatra Centennial Blogathon hosted by Movie Classics & The Vintage Cameo. 
Silver Screenings 
I love Sinatra the Actor as well as Sinatra the Singer, so this film was amazing to me. I don’t know what it is about Frank’s movies, but I’ll watch them and go crazy over him and then I’ll read other people’s thoughts and it’s like they can’t wait to tear it down, especially this movie. I’m excited to enjoy this blogathon and actually read celebrations of Sinatra. Nice choice and great post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, I don’t get why some folks are dismissive of Frank’s movies. He was a GOOD actor! This is one of the first Sinatra movies I ever saw, and his performance blew me it away. It still does,.
LikeLike
I love this film and just can’t get enough of it – one of Sinatra’s greatest performances as an actor. You’re absolutely right to say he is mesmerising to watch. I hadn’t realised it was the first major film to portray heroin use, which makes it even more ground-breaking. Thanks for this great contribution to the blogathon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I agree – it is one of his greatest performances, and that’s saying something!
Thanks for organizing and co-hosting this terrific blogathon. Frank deserves this celebration.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A truly harrowing performance from Frank and a very intriguing film. A perfect combination and a terrific review.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ruth, This film was the first I saw Sinatra , and it gave me a even more impress at his is so amising! 😀 Thanks, pal!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This was one of the first Sinatra films I saw, too, and I was stunned by his performance. Every time I see this film, I marvel at how believable he is.
LikeLike
I admire how unafraid he was to look so haggard and unkempt. That is committing to the character, no?
LikeLike
WOW!
LikeLike
This is my favorite Sinatra film, although admittedly I’m not big on his music, so any movie where he doesn’t sing gets a bonus from me. There’s a triple-entendre in the title, since he aspires to be a professional drummer, and is supposedly pretty good when he’s clean. The scene where he auditions for the band is one of the most painful I’ve ever seen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true!! That audition scene is heartbreaking. I almost want to scream, “Get it together, Frank!”
Ah yes, the triple entendre – you are absolutely right about that. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice tribute to a wonderful Sinatra performance! There just wasn’t much of anything that Frank couldn’t do!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I completely agree – that wasn’t much Frank couldn’t do, and this film proves it. I mean, he learned to play the drums for this role?! And makes it look like he’s been drumming his whole life.
LikeLike
While the film today may be considered mild, at the time this was strong stuff. Sinatra and Preminger took chances at the time. His performance still holds up well.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Agreed. There’s nothing dated about Sinatra’s performance here. He – and the film – have held up well over the years. I’m always excited to introduce this film to people.
LikeLike
It’s easy to forget how controversial things were decades in the past – in a world where a film could be Banned in Boston for using the word ‘virgin’ this was quite a move indeed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A nice review of a very haunting film. The heroin scenes are hard to watch. It’s another example of how Sinatra was a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood.
Tam
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, those heroin scenes are hard to watch. He’s so convincing, you almost feel like you’re watching a documentary.
LikeLike
I saw the first half of this years ago and had to leave in the middle, thanks for reuniting my brain with a gray memory!
Seriously, though if Bosley Crother (biggest curmudgeon of the 20th century) could eek out a kind word, it must be a great performance.
LikeLike
Ah yes, Bosley Crowther, bless him. I think it pained him to say something nice about Frank, but he’s right.
I hope you get the chance to re-watch this film. I definitely think it needs the Serendipitous Anachronisms treatment (hint hint).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Been a while since I have seen this. Frank does the weather beaten woe is me look so well it’s hard to believe he could jump on a stage and knock us all out with a swinging up tempo number.
LikeLike
So true! It is hard to imagine the woe begotten Frank wow-ing ’em
LikeLike
Premature send! What I meant to say is that it’s hard to imagine this woe begotten Frank wow-ing ’em at Caesar’s Palace in Vegas.
LikeLike
I need to watch more of Sinatra’s movies, this one has eluded me for some reason. What a stellar write up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! Oh yes, you’ve GOT to see this one! Frank is really, REALLY good here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m adding it to my ever growing list.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I watched seven Sinatra films this week for my own centennial tribute to Sinatra and this film wasn’t one of them because I don’t have a copy handy. (I must have a crappy p.d. copy in storage somewhere.) I also wanted to focus on his movie star persona as displayed in YOUNG AT HEART, the Rat Pack films and the Tony Rome films, among others. But I’m glad I read your take on it and am now eager to see GOLDEN ARM again (I can probably find it on YouTube.) Is there any way my piece can be linked to the Sinatra blogathon? I’m not in touch with its sponsors. Here’s a link:
https://briandanacamp.wordpress.com/2015/12/12/frank-sinatra-centennial/
Thanks.
LikeLike
Hi Brian! I will try to link to you the hosts of the blogathon. I think The Man with the Golden Arm is on YouTube, and it’s always worth a re-watch. 🙂
LikeLike
Considering the Sinatra persona–that of the ultimate cool guy/lounge singer–it was gutsy of him to take on this role. Certainly one of his best performances, one that always deserves highlighting. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It as pretty gutsy of him to take this role, as you said. It’s a role that demands you look your worst and make yourself completely vulnerable. Not every actor would choose to do it.
LikeLike
I challenge anyone who has an unfavorable impression of Old Blue Eyes’ acting ability to watch this movie. He was simply incredible in it. How he must have shocked audiences who, up until then, had never seen such things on the big screen nor in real life, for that matter. An amazing film, all way round. And isn’t that an incredible picture of Kim Novak?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it must have been really shocking to audiences when first released, like you said. When I first saw it, a few years ago, I was kind of shocked myself – because Sinatra gave such a credible performance.
As for Kim Novak, it seems all photos of her are incredible.
LikeLike
Sinatra had some challenging roles, and played them to perfection. I haven’t seen this film yet, but I have no doubt Ol’ Blue Eyes will surprise me when I do watch.
Thanks for the kind comment!
Kisses!
Le
LikeLike
You will be amazed by his performance. Some folks aren’t too keen on Sinatra as an actor, but I think he proves ’em wrong in this film. To me, this role is almost as challenging as it gets!
LikeLike
A landmark Preminger film and fine performances by Frank and Kim. I rank right under Sinatra’s best performances: THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, VON RYAN’S EXPRESS, and SUDDENLY. (No FROM HERE TO ETERNITY for me…not for Frank).
LikeLike
A landmark film is right.It’s one of those films where everything seems perfect – casting, music, script, etc.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen “From Here to Eternity”. I’ve come across a few people who weren’t thrilled with Sinatra in this film, so maybe it’s time I took another look.
LikeLike
I wasn’t familiar with this film, but it is now on my must watch list. It sounds heart-breaking, yet I would like to familiarize myself with the issues of drug addition and try to understand it more. I have several friends whose children are struggling with this. It is so sad to watch them go through it. I know it is just a movie, yet if it can help me empathize, I think it would be worth watching. I have not seen a Frank Sinatra movie before, but it sounds like he does an amazing job. Thank for the great review, Ruth!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s admirable that you want to support your friends & their children in this kind of situation. They likely need a good friend to lean on now & then!
Like you said, this film is heartbreaking – an excellent description, considering Sinatra’s character has so much potential. I hope you get the chance to see it. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
LikeLike