just get release from a six month drug rehabilitation program and have serve his time for deal card in illegal gamble card game and frankie machine ( frank sinatra ) have high hope for go clean and find a new life a a big band drummer . however upon return to his old crime ridden chicago neighborhood and he soon find the pressure mount from those around him and include his wheelchair ridden wife zosch ( eleanor parker ) and to return to the old money make dealer lifestyle that first get him start on the path of self destruction that be be an heroin addict . it very rare that a film have so many great character performance a this one do . frank sinatra be superb a frankie machine and and realistically portray the symptom of a drug addict go through withdrawal arguably well than anyone else have ever be do before him . sinatra seem to possess a keen understanding and awareness of his character here and express the constant battle for control over his own life that be forever go on inside the heart of the man that be frankie machine . parker a his crippled wife zosch want to possess frankie forever and to have him deal to make good money so a to take care of her and pay her ever mount medical bill . she seem terrify by anything she see a a threat to her control over him and such a the freedom the life of a drummer might offer and or anything that might change the status quo between them . onlooker molly ( kim novak ) and a girl who live in the same building and seem to possess real and strong genuine feeling for frankie and have no desire to control him but only to help him prove the best thing frankie have go for him in the world if he can just stay straight long enough to wake up and realize it . darren mcgavin a the heroin drug peddler louie however be always there just wait in the wing know just the right button to push and just the thing to say and to get a former addict to revert back to that old habit and one profitable to louie but deadly for the addict . the set too seem to take on a life of it own and constantly dark and gritty and seedy and crime ridden with nowhere near enough positive thing to look forward to in life and a place where it all too easy to escape via a bottle or drug and a quick fix that truly no fix at all but only work to keep one in the dark away from the daylight and all the bright prospect the world might have to offer . it a neat touch that when frankie be on the right track and the setting always seem brighter than when he head down the wrong road . while some argue it be a bit dated and to me this be a gritty film feature a realistic inner war within a man for control over his own fate and one that feature very strong character performance by all involve . give that and the man with the golden arm get my high possible recommendation .