The Man with the Golden Arm
1955 · Movie · NR · 119 min · ★ 7.2 · 72% critics
A man leaves prison determined to rebuild his life, using a drum set and a fresh start to stay away from drugs and crime. But old connections, money troubles, and constant temptation pull him back toward illegal gambling and addiction, testing how hard it is to stay clean when the past won’t let go.
Based on The Man with the Golden Arm
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Details
- Years
- 1955
- Release date
- 1955-12-26
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 119 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 72/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.2/10 (252 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a tough, realistic drama about addiction, temptation, and second chances with a bleak, claustrophobic mood; Not for you if you prefer light stories or fast pacing, and it may remind you of The Panic in Needle Park.
Pros: gritty, hard-hitting drama; strong lead performance; tense addiction struggle | Cons: slow early pacing; story feels overlong; some side plots distract
Themes
- prison
- drug dealer
- underground world
- jazz
- poker
- sense of guilt
- gambling
- insanity
- junkie
- ex-lover
- suspicion of murder
- rehabilitation
- +3 more
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Original Dramatic or Comedy Score · 1956 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Actor · 1956 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Art Direction, Black and White · 1956 · nominated
Cast & crew
Frank Sinatra
as Frankie Machine
Eleanor Parker
as Zosh Machine
Kim Novak
as Molly
Arnold Stang
as Sparrow
Darren McGavin
as Louie
Robert Strauss
as Schwiefka
John Conte
as Drunky
Doro Merande
as Vi
George E. Stone
as Sam Markette
George Mathews
as Williams
Directed by Otto Preminger