otto preminger the man with the golden arm be a reference to heroin addiction something that must have be rather risky to film back in 1955 and fifty year ago ( the censor today still have a problem with drug content in film . ) . the lead role be originally offer to marlon brando and then snatch by frank sinatra before brando could respond . sinatra convincingly portray a pro card dealer and ex heroin addict who return home to the city only to find himself battle the demon of temptation . preminger be one of my favorite director ( his anatomy of a murder star james stewart be a brilliant and revolutionary courtroom drama ) . preminger pretty much help change the face of cinema back in the 50 anatomy of a murder be extremely controversial when it come out due to both it plot and content ( reference to rape and woman panty and seduction and etc . ) and the man with the golden arm deal with a topic that be equally volatile . however and preminger pull it off without become exploitative . this be like a forerunner to the panic in needle park ( 1971 ) and bear more than a few similarity in term of general motif to the classic billy wilder movie lose weekend and star ray milland . these three film in particular be probably the best movie about alcoholism predate the 1980s and still remain relevant today .