the film was released contrary to Hollywood's strict production codes of the time

The Motion Picture Production Code of 1930, better known as the Hays code.

In the Academy Awards for 1955, Sinatra lost out to Ernest Borgnine in Marty. Borgnine had played Sgt. Judson in From Here to Eternity, a vicious SOB who broke poor Maggio. Frankie Jr. wanted to punch him out at the awards ceremony, but as FS gently reminded his son: he's our friend... he helped me to win the Oscar. It's likely Sinatra did not mind losing to Borgnine, but of course he should have won an Oscar for MWGA.

The film has so many great scenes, can't possibly mention them all, but my favorite may be when Kim Novak returns to her apartment, late at night, and Frankie's there practicing his drums. (You should hear me on Perdido, he brags.) They talk for awhile and she dozes off with a glass of milk in her hand, which he removes, then lays her down and tenderly tucks her in for the night. Turns off the light and settles himself in a corner, under a blanket. His facial expressions throughout the movie are priceless; so much of Sinatra's best acting was non-verbal.

I also love the scene where Novak and Sinatra gaze into store windows and fantasize about a life together. Another great one: with sidekick Arnold Stang in jail, when another addict loses it. As Nancy noted, the change of expression on her father's face was frightening. A great performance.

From an article in Newsweek (May 25, 1998):

The movie caused a sensation at the time: a graphic, taboo-breaking look at heroin addiction, with Sinatra as Frankie Machine, a drummer who can't keep the monkey off his back. Acclaimed in 1955 for its brutal realism, it now looks as artificial and flamboyantly theatrical as a medieval morality play. Except for Sinatra. Surrounded by the florid overacting of Eleanor Parker and a Runyonesque barful of backlot lowlifes, Sinatra gives the movie its bitter kernel of authenticity. There's nothing cute about him here. He's a cool, astringent presence. He has our sympathy, but you never catch him asking for it.

Andrea

[russkish3]

For some reason, I have never seen this film. Don't ask me why. I know of its reputation, and have read many accounts describing the powerful performance by Frank Sinatra.

I have a question for our resident geniuses. How did Frank get along with Otto Preminger during the production of "Man With the Golden Arm"? I have also read many accounts describing Preminger as a difficult, sometimes abusive director. I surmise that, given Frank Sinatra's willingness to do his own research for this role, he must have at least gotten along well with Preminger. But I know nothing. Anyone have answers to this? Just curious.

Best regards,

Russell Kishi
Glendale, California

Hi Russ,

all accounts I have read so far on the shooting, which took place in September and October 1955, seem to agree that the relationship between Preminger and Sinatra was close to perfect, much to the surprise of many.

Premingers biographer Frischauer cites the director about how FS even requested, on some occasions, more takes on certain scenes than the director himself thought necessary. Daniel O'Brien's FS film guide echoes these reports, adding (from interviews with surviving participants) that FS stayed at the set each day for 12 hours, from early morning shooting to rush master scenes screened in the evening.

That was not the case with Sinatra in many other film productions he worked for - I think it shows that FS *really* wanted to play this role, and he wanted to play it the best he could. It seems that all those people waiting for clashes between Preminger and Sinatra were hugely disappointed.

There seem to have been much more complaints about Kim Novak, who according to Preminger's bio took up to 35 takes even for the smallest of scenes now and then, "rivaling Marlon Brando". Brando by the way had also applied for the role of Frankie Machine as soon as Preminger had publicly conscripted the part, but Sinatra - finally - won the part.

The problem with the MPAA was that the organisation strictly condemned any graphic scene of drug absuse. Preminger argued that the film would be stricly anti-drug and to achieve that must use graphic drug scenes, but the board did not consider his arguments. Preminger (and Sinatra who believed so much in this role) surely were much ahead of their times with this film. It's a shame that he didn't get the Oscar for it.

By all means, Russ, you MUST watch this film! "Manchurian Candidate" aside, it is Sinatra's best movie.

Bernhard.

By all means, Russ, you MUST watch this film! "Manchurian Candidate" aside, it is Sinatra's best movie.

Listen to the gentleman, Russell. He knows of where he speaks!

[Stranger56]

Russ, my man!!!

You've GOT to see this film.
Candidate may be a better film, but you won't see a better Sinatra performance than the one he delivers in "..Golden Arm".

Oscar got it wrong.

What's new?

Jim

....It was on last night; "TCM". Absolutely, a fantastic movie with superb acting from Frank Sinatra. He said, it was his best work; "Proformance", on cue and on time everyday.


William

williamr: yeah I saw the last half of it about the time he was going thru the drug thing cold turkey, almost killed me, as it always does. He should have gotten an Oscar for it. What do the voters of the academy know. In my mind he is a Oscar winner and a Grammy winner and every other award you can think of for anything he did. Am I partial? You damn RIGHT!!!

Charlie


Keep HIS music playing, and sleep warm

[MMM]

Here's the link to a previous thread for The Man With the Golden Arm :

http://www.sinatrafamily.com/forum/s...&threadid=9380

Probably my favorite of his movies acting wise. I just cry when I see it, poor Frankie! Drugs are bad.

[MMM]

Here's the links to previous threads about this movie:

http://www.sinatrafamily.com/forum/s...&threadid=9380

http://www.sinatrafamily.com/forum/s...threadid=14304

Thanks!

[Adam]

I have merged them altogether now.

Adam

I just love Kim Novak in this one too.

[Jeffrey Simmons]

On the DVD of this movie, there is a very short interview with FS relating to how he prepared for the movie. It only runs a minute or so. I wonder, when exactly was this made?

Also, since it is clear this is an excerpt from a longer interview, can anyone here please provide full details of this interview?

[Marty]

there is a link below which refers to Martin's original thread about the movie, as well as containing links to others, the threads touch upon the preparation for the role, and hopefully by re-raising the subject one of our more knowledgable members may be able to illuminate further.

http://www.sinatrafamily.com/forum/s...m&pagenumber=1

JSS

The original movie was made in 1955 B&W
running time like 120 minutes
I have the VHS

[MMM]

Originally posted by MerseyRat
there is a link below which refers to Martin's original thread about the movie, as well as containing links to others, the threads touch upon the preparation for the role, and hopefully by re-raising the subject one of our more knowledgable members may be able to illuminate further.

http://www.sinatrafamily.com/forum/s...m&pagenumber=1

Thanks for posting the link, Marty!

[Jeffrey Simmons]

Thanks guys for your responses, but this does not answer my particular question. I am already fairly familiar with the movie and, over the years I have seen numerous recorded interviews with FS from around the time that it was made.

However, on this DVD there is a short, much more recent interview with FS and it is specifically about the full details of this interview that I am asking about - eg,
exactly when it was made?
who was FS talking to?
how long was the whole thing and what other subjects were covered?
where was it shown in its entirety?
etc etc etc

[Jeffrey Simmons]

(I am puzzled because I replied to this earlier today and my reply is not here - I'll try to reprise it)

Thanks very much guys but what I am asking is purely for specific details about the interview on the DVD. I am familiar with the movie and I have also seen, through the years, several FS interviews made about the time of the movie about his work on the film. But what I want to know here please is the date of the DVD interview? how long was the full interview? to whom was FS speaking? what other subjects were discussed and when was it ever shown? etc etc

I love this. I bought the DVD, loved it, did a search online via Google, and found this thread
I have not been ehre in a long time. Anyway, wow, was Frank intense in this one or what? It's searing pain, decrepit esteem of the main characters and stark brutal view is like a splash of cold water in the morning. The soundtrack and ambient music, is just right.
I LOVE this movie. Easily Frank's best acting job. Kim Novak was also at her second best (I think her best was "Vertigo".)

Buy the DVD, willya?