The Man with the Golden Arm
About The Man with the Golden Arm
Frankie Machine comes back to Chicago after six months in prison, off the drug and hoping to drum. His wife Zosh wants him dealing cards again. His old dealer, Louie, is waiting. Molly, who lives downstairs, is the one who stays with him through the withdrawal. Frank Sinatra plays Frankie. Eleanor Parker plays Zosh. Kim Novak plays Molly. Darren McGavin plays Louie.
Cast & crew
More about The Man with the Golden Arm
Otto Preminger directed and produced. Walter Newman, Lewis Meltzer, and Ben Hecht adapted Nelson Algren's novel. Sam Leavitt photographed. Elmer Bernstein composed. Louis R. Loeffler edited. United Artists released it on December 15, 1955. 119 minutes. The drug is not named on screen. The novel uses morphine. The American Film Institute notes that most later accounts treat it as heroin. Nominated for Best Actor, black-and-white art direction, and score. The copyright was not renewed, so the film is in the public domain. Named to the National Film Registry in 2020. A copy is on the Internet Archive as The.Man.With.the.Golden.Arm.1955.720p.WEBDL.AAC2.0.H.264CtrlHD.
Themes
Look
Sam Leavitt shot the card room and the withdrawal.
Music
Elmer Bernstein composed the score.
Preservation
In the public domain because the copyright was not renewed. Named to the National Film Registry in 2020.
Notes
- Sinatra's nomination was for Best Actor. It did not win.
- Arnold Stang plays Sparrow.
- Preminger released it without a Production Code seal.
- The 2020 registry listing is separate from the Oscar nominations.
Awards
- National Film Registry (2020)
Scenes
- Frankie tries to drum and the old dealer is already in the room.
- Molly locks the door while he goes through withdrawal.
Influenced by
- Nelson Algren's novel The Man with the Golden Arm
Also available
- Internet Archive (The.Man.With.the.Golden.Arm.1955.720p.WEBDL.AAC2.0.H.264CtrlHD)