The Man With The Golden Arm (1955) - any good?

[redsnapper]

Anyone seen this and if so would you recommend it? Supposedly a classic.

The Man with the Golden Arm is a 1955 film, based on the novel by Nelson Algren, which tells the story of a heroin addict who got clean while in prison but struggles to stay straight in the outside world. It stars Frank Sinatra, Eleanor Parker, Kim Novak, Arnold Stang and Darren McGavin.

 

[Belushi]

Saw it years ago, Sinatara is a drummer in it I think? - one fo Franks better movies as far as I can remember.

 

[El Jefe]

It's a fantastic film, Sinatra's finest by a wide margin.

 

[chieftain]

The Graphics on the posters for it are great. Saul Bass did them < LEGEND

 

[killer b]

yep, great film.

 

[editor]

Superb film. Sinatra is superb.

 

[vogonity]

A seriously good film - and ground-breaking in its day.

 

[mhendo]

Never seen the movie, but the book is seriously good. Read it if you get the chance.

 

[danny la rouge]

It's an excellent film.

 

[redsnapper]

Thanks all that's sealed it then, gotta see it and/or read the book

 

[cybertect]

Supposedly a classic.

It is. Possibly my favourite Sinatra movie (though it's a tough call between that and The Manchurian Candidate).

 

[Firky]

The Graphics on the posters for it are great. Saul Bass did them < LEGEND

I wanted to say that and sound all clever

 

[redsnapper]

The Graphics on the posters for it are great. Saul Bass did them < LEGEND

It talks about the title sequence here that Saul Bass did and says how good it is. And describes the the soundtrack as a 'landmark in film history'.

The movie opens with one of the most famous, influential and controversial title sequences in movie history, the animated paper cut-out of a heroin addict's arm, designed and conceived by Saul Bass as a means of creating much more than a mere title-sequence, but something that actually enhances the viewer's experience of the film by contributing to a mood built within the opening moments of a film. Bass would go on to create memorable title-sequences for more renowned films, notably for Alfred Hitchcock for films such as Vertigo, North by Northwest and Psycho.

Similarly, the film's soundtrack was a landmark in film history, being hitherto one of the most creative and inventive jazz scores heard in a major motion picture; it followed on somewhat from the score provided by Alex North for A Streetcar Named Desire (1951).

 

[chico enrico]

It's a fantastic film, Sinatra's finest by a wide margin.

errr...'suddenly' is pretty brilliant too.

sinatra was a quality actor.

man with the golden arm - glorious film!

from the era when most of the best movies were made.