The Man with the Golden Arm

By: Walter Newman, Lewis Meltzer

Narrated by: Sean Pratt, various

“Molly, if you love me, kill me, please.”–Frankie "Dealer" Machine

Directed by Otto Preminger and nominated for three Academy Awards, The Man with the Golden Arm is an impressive 1955 classic film noir drama, based on the novel of the same name by Nelson Algren, starring Frank Sinatra, Eleanor Parker, and Kim Novak. Some say that Sinatra should have won an Oscar for Best Actor for this role.

Upon its release, the subject of the film, drug abuse and addiction in society, was considered controversial to speak about in the open, and the film experienced trouble getting past industry censorship codes.

Frankie Machine (Sinatra), a recovering heroin addict and illegal card dealer, returns home to his squalid neighborhood in Chicago after six months in prison. He is hoping to go straight and find a job as a drummer, but when both his ex-drug pusher, Louie, and his ruthless former employer, Schwiefka, show up, Frankie is in trouble.

Frankie had taken the fall as the dealer when Schwiefka's illegal poker game was raided. For not talking while in prison, Schwiefka had promised to take care of Frankie's wife, Sophia, nicknamed Zosh (Parker), wheelchair bound due to a car accident Frankie had caused when driving drunk. Frankie married her out of guilt, despite being in love with his neighbor, Molly (Novak).

The drama is tight and full of certain interesting thematic subtleties. Discover these twists and turns, revenge, deceit, murder, an arrest, a revelation, a tragic fall, and more!

This version offers a unique opportunity to enjoy this film complete in an audio format, including the original critically acclaimed jazz-inspired musical score by Elmer Bernstein.

Public Domain (P)2025 Maple Spring Publishing