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Film Description
An acting triumph for Frank Sinatra as Frankie Machine, illegal poker dealer and heroin addict who yearns to become a big band drummer. A searing drama which uncompromisingly portrays the harsh realities of addiction. Sinatra is ably supported by Parker as the duplicitous wife and Novak as his girlfriend who makes him go cold turkey.
The censorship problem that Otto Preminger’s groundbreaking film encountered in the Fifties (particularly concerning Frank Sinatra's harrowing scenes involving drug ad... more >
The censorship problem that Otto Preminger’s groundbreaking film encountered in the Fifties (particularly concerning Frank Sinatra's harrowing scenes involving drug addiction) seem distant now – particularly as, even then, this otherwise tough film still represented a softening of Nelson Algren’s remarkable novel. Still, it remains an impressive piece: Sinatra's intense performance, Elmer Bernstein’s highly influential jazz-oriented score, Saul Bass’ revolutionary title design; all of these triumph over Preminger’s sound stage-bound production. And it’s salutary to note that a film against which the moral guardians of the day fulminated is now certificated 15 for its DVD release. The extras, as with all Ken Barnes’ Sanctuary products, are exemplary: a conversation with Elmer Bernstein is particularly valuable < less
