a dark and painful look at the peril of drug addiction and sinatra be wonderful in this film . just watch his frenzied writhing and screaming and destructive rage near the end of the film be enough to make anyone think twice about try heroin while maybe they should show this to kid in health class instead of the mindless drivel we be compel to endure year after year . it the story of a man who be simply try to make a new and clean life for himself after be in prison and try to rid himself of his drug habit and his job of deal card in illegal gamble operation and who be pull down and pull back into the muck by the evil of human nature . he be be take advantage of by his employer and the drug dealer and and even his enigmatic and crafty yet stupid wife . even if you do not like the film itself and it worth see just for the soundtrack . it all heavy and swinging jazz with large drum and brass section . this and with it groovy and yet slightly sinister sound and help set the mood and along with the grinning and snaky drug and card dealer and who always seem to hover like vulture around frankie machine . i recommend this to anyone especially if you like film noir and zoot suit and fedora and or jazz .