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The Man with the Golden Arm (1955)

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Average Rating: 6.9/10
Reviews Counted: 18
Fresh: 15 | Rotten: 3

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 2

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Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 3,742

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Movie Info

When Otto Preminger was willing to release his drug-addiction drama Man With the Golden Arm without the sanction of a Production Code seal, it proved to be yet another nail in the coffin of that censorial dinosaur. Based on the novel by Nelson Algren, the film stars Frank Sinatra as Frankie Machine, expert card dealer (hence the title). Recently released from prison, Frankie is determined to set his life in order -- and that means divesting himself of his drug habit. He dreams of becoming a jazz

Unrated, 1 hr. 59 min.

Drama

Directed By: Otto Preminger

Written By: Walter Newman

In Theaters: Dec 15, 1955 Wide

On DVD: May 16, 2000

United Artists

Cast

Frank Sinatra
Frankie Machine
Eleanor Parker
Zosch Machine
Kim Novak
Molly
Arnold Stang
Sparrow
Darren McGavin
Louis
Robert Strauss
Schwiefka
John Conte
Drunky
Doro Merande
Vi
George E. Stone
Sam Markette
George Mathews
Williams
Leonid Kinskey
Dr. Dominowski
Emile G. Meyer
Inspector Bednar
Shorty Rogers
Himself
Shelly Manne
Himself
Frank Richards
Piggy
Will Wright
Lane
Frank Marlowe
Antek
Joe McTurk
Meter Reader
Ralph Neff
Chester
Martha Wentworth
Vangie
Leonard Bremen
Taxi Driver
Paul E. Burns
Suspenders
Charles Seel
Proprietor
Jerry Barclay
Junkie

Critic Reviews for The Man with the Golden Arm

All Critics (19) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (16) | Rotten (4) | DVD (7)

A gripping, fascinating film, expertly produced and directed and performed with marked conviction by Frank Sinatra as the drug slave.

October 23, 2007 Full Review Source: Variety

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Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

Frank Sinatra, as the drug-addicted poker dealer, plays a reasonably naturalistic character, but he's surrounded by a collection of bizarre archetypes.

October 23, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

In short, for all the delicacy of the subject and for all the pathological shivers in a couple of scenes, there is nothing very surprising or exciting about The Man With the Golden Arm.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Top Critic

As one Hollywood's first movies about drug addiction, Otto Preminger's drama starring Frank Sinatra, may be more significant historically than artistically.

April 1, 2011 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

Director Otto Preminger emphasizes the lurid whenever he can ... so that the movie plays like a blurry, bleary night-on-its-way-to-morning.

June 19, 2008 Full Review Source: LarsenOnFilm

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

It's a film that had a monkey on its back.

December 28, 2007 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Sinatra, by contrast, is superb, especially in a harrowing withdrawal scene. It's his movie...all the way.

October 23, 2007 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

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TV Guide's Movie Guide

More Damon Runyan than Irvine Welsh, but as entertaining as it is important.

October 23, 2007 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine

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Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

Some of the scenes of cold turkey are still very effective, and Sinatra's performance is flawless.

October 23, 2007 Full Review Source: Film4

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Film4

There are some great scenes, though, notably Sinatra's audition for a make-or-break drumming job, and the later scene where he suffers cold turkey in Novak's apartment.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

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Time Out

A brave and well-constructed piece of old-time movie-making, and the thing more than holds up today.

November 13, 2005 Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com

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Scott Weinberg

DVDTalk.com

A terrific exposition of the perils of drug addiction

September 18, 2004 Comment

Tony Medley

Tolucan Times Source: Tolucan Times

Proves that drug stories aren't exclusively the territory of hip, nihilistic '90s film-school wunderkinder.

September 17, 2001 Full Review Source: culturevulture.net

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Phil Freeman

culturevulture.net

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Man with the Golden Arm

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Decent but not great movie about a ex-junkie and how he got sucked back into his habit. I'm not a Sinatra fan, but he did OK as heroin addict Frankie Machine. The title refers to Johnny's job, which is a card dealer for illegal card games. Eleanor Powell plays Johnny's wife, who is in a wheelchair because of an

September 6, 2010

Cindy I

Super Reviewer

This is basically an overwrought melodramatic depiction of hard drug abuse (one of the first in cinema, I believe). It's a little tame by today's standards, but it features really good performances and an excellent score by Elmer Bernstein. I give it a B-.

January 7, 2010