star rating represent saturday night friday night friday morning sunday night monday morning one time heroin addict frankie machine ( frank sinatra ) get out of prison to his bumble jailbird partner sparrow ( arnold stang ) and needy cripple of a wife zosch ( eleanor parker ) and bit on the side molly ( kim novak . ) he try to make it big a a drummer in a band and but until his big break come along he stick do the only other thing he be any good at other than be a junkie deal card in high stake game . and try a he might and even prison hasn not cure him of his addiction to the devil drug cause him to lie to and deceive all those around him and drive him to desperate measure to fee his habit . his yearn to come off it be his only motivation towards a happy end . when people think of frank sinatra they generally think of classic high pitch song like under my skin and new york new york and it have to be you . but l anyone forget he be actually a renowned actor too and and if his performance in the acclaimed from here to eternity wasn not enough and he will also be remember for this cut edge drama and deal with what be at the time the ultra taboo subject of drug abuse . the film be often list a one of the first to feature graphic heroin use ( probably the reason behind the 15 certificate ) in a time when it be a subject that be still very much push underground . in his portrayal of the main protagonist and sinatra be fine and perfectly convey the despair and desperation and sincerity of a man lose every second chance that be be give to him . his cold turkey scene be much more intense than ewan mcgregor in trainspotting . the first co star to make an impression be parker a machine demanding and needy cripple of a wife and use her husband guilt and sense of duty to all the effect she can . novak a his secret lover still manage some strong moment but be less of a star than parker . stang do his usual comic relief thing and a the bumbling sidekick who trail the lead man around with his waspy new york accent . director otto preminger do allow the pace to drag a bit sometimes but this be still a powerfully absorbing film all the way and with plenty of unexpected twist and turn and which should be admire for be one of the first film to bring such a grim subject so powerfully to life . .