For the most part, it's just, meh. While Sinatra is great, no one else brings any depth to the table. Elmer Bernstein provides a great score, that repeats itself one too many times for my liking. But there's a lot more that could have been done to enhance this film with so much potential. Given this is the first film to deal with drug addiction, I feel I should cut some slack, but there's so much that Preminger leaves the audience wanting.

In the screenplay, they kept speaking of the monkey on Machine's back. I know it's a figure of speech, but it would have added a lot for me had they used certain camera angles in correlation with the set design to show something on his back. It doesn't necessarily have to be a monkey, just something that appears when he's hooked and it's off when he "quits".

Decision points: Frankie Machine makes difficult choices shaped by his own past habits, lingering physical dependencies, shifting state of mind, and the manipulative abilities of those around him.

A fantastic script that was well executed within the confines of a soundstage by Otto Preminger. It's also packed with great performances (by Sinatra and Novak in particular).

For the most part, it's just, meh. While Sinatra is great, no one else brings any depth to the table. Elmer Bernstein provides a great score, that repeats itself one too many times for my liking. But there's a lot more that could have been done to enhance this film with so much potential. Given this is the first film to deal with drug addiction, I feel I should cut some slack, but there's so much that Preminger leaves the audience wanting.

In the screenplay, they kept speaking of the monkey on Machine's back. I know it's a figure of speech, but it would have added a lot for me had they used certain camera angles in correlation with the set design to show something on his back. It doesn't necessarily have to be a monkey, just something that appears when he's hooked and it's off when he "quits".

This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.

It appears that I had written Sinatra as an actor off a little too early, because here he gives a really impressive portrayal of an ex-drug addict fighting his way back into society after a stint in jail. Sinatra is so believable in every step of the gradual near-complete redescent, that I wonder how much of it that's based on personal experience. Preminger no doubt also played an important part in getting such a good performance out of him.

One of the most fascinating film I have seen in a few years. It has been about a year since I watched it last. I need to give it another go. Such a great film. Could see it being done on stage.

Sinatra as a heroin addict? Genius! Superb, yet incredbly bleak, film that is lit beautifully and acted to perfection by Sinatra and the always perfect Kim Novak.

Preminger. Sinatra. 1950s. Bernstein. Herion. Need I continue?

A pretty good role for SInatra with lots to do, the story is engageing and some good moments to be had.