we have move far beyond this tentative foray into a forbidden area drug addiction for the 1950s . a such and the film may seem date . the man with the golden arm serve it function be peel back a layer of the underside of society and an eye opener to a southern country boy in 1955 when i first view this film in the theater . after some serious consideration about be too young and i be allow to go . it be powerful and affect then and still maintain some sharp and painful moment of the soul strip naked . a a movie depict the loneliness at the core of be and it succeed . fill with angst and frank sinatra and in his best role and create a vulnerability that make him sympathetic to the viewer . he convey his helplessness and ineffectualness in a beautifully restrain performance . a a voice of common sense in the dead end urban jungle and kim novak a molly be quite good . she be compassionate and yet stand on solid ground . the interaction between sinatra and novak be really good . darren mcgavin play a slimy character and do it very well . eleanor parker be superbly irritate and painfully insecure in her role of the pathetic zosch and the crippled wife of sinatra . arnold stang be another unlikely survivor of the street . regard a pitiful and despicable and his character sparrow provide tart comedic moment . the music be almost the star of this film brooding and frenetic and moody and poignant . elmer bernstein score perfectly accentuate the tension of frankie machine spiritual weakness and physical need for heroin . molly theme be bittersweet and capture aurally what the film depict visually . i know of no other soundtrack that effectively complement the tension and defeat within a man as effectively a do this one .