On M List of Movie Reviews

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The Man with the Golden Arm (1955)

Rate: 8
Viewed: 9/10

9/10: Frank Sinatra makes a dramatic comeback in The Man with the Golden Arm.

The first picture to tackle the subject of heroin addiction, it's the Drugstore Cowboy of the 50's. Frank Sinatra makes a major stride in being taken seriously as an actor, and it shows.

Robert Osborne, the host of TCM, said it was the best performance of his career, but I disagree. That happened in From Here to Eternity although a case can be made for The Manchurian Candidate. Kim Novak is beautiful as ever and shows what she's capable of until Vertigo appeared three years later.

The cast is full of terrific supporting actors except for the annoying guy with the baseball cap. The idea of Zosch, who's played by Eleanor Parker, as a hypochondriac invalid brings another perspective to the story, and I like it a lot.

All in all, The Man with the Golden Arm is a must-see picture for all fans of Frank Sinatra.

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