Noir City 2026: The Man With the Golden Arm

USA | 1955 | 119 min. | Otto Preminger

February 15, 2026

One of the first noir films to explore hard drugs, strikingly directed by Preminger and startlingly raw in its depiction of dependency. Frank Sinatra, earning an Oscar nomination for his performance, is heartbreaking as the golden-armed drummer who possesses more charisma than willpower.

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Sunday, February 15, 2026

Frank Sinatra is Frankie Machine, a hustler and recovering drug addict. Frankie decides to go straight and pursue his dream of becoming a musician, but the more time he spends on the outside the harder it becomes to resist the temptation of the needle. The Man with the Golden Arm is the darkest noir gets, bolstered by Otto Preminger’s unflinching direction and Sam Leavitt’s cinematography, which renders every moment of Frankie’s sobriety a claustrophobic nightmare. The real highlight of the film, however, is Sinatra’s Oscar-nominated performance. He’s remarkable as the weak-willed drummer, utilizing his slight physique and baby-blue eyes to haunting effect. Featuring Eleanor Parker and Kim Novak as the devil and angel, respectively, on Frankie’s shoulders.

  • Director: Otto Preminger
  • Principal Cast: Frank Sinatra, Eleanor Parker, Kim Novak, Arnold Stand, Darren McGavin
  • Country: USA
  • Year: 1955
  • Running Time: 119 min.
  • Producer: Otto Preminger
  • Screenplay: Walter Newman, Lewis Melzer
  • Cinematographers: Sam Leavitt
  • Editors: Louis R. Loeffler
  • Music: Elmer Bernstein
  • Format: DCP
  • US Distributor: Reel Media