THE JOKER IS WILD

US, 1957, 126 minutes, Black and white.
Frank Sinatra, Mitzi Gaynor, Eddie Albert, Jeanne Crain, Beverley Garland, Jackie Coogan, Ted de Corsia.
Directed by Charles Vidor.

The Joker is Wild is that popular Hollywood combination of show business and the gangster world. It seems, in retrospect, that Frank Sinatra is an appropriate choice to play the nightclub singer of the Prohibition era, Joe Lewis. The film gives an opportunity for Sinatra to perform, to sing, to do entertaining style comedy. The film also has an Academy Award-winning song, 'All the Way'.

There is good support from Eddie Albert as Lewis's pianist and from Mitzi Gaynor and Jeanne Crain as the two women in his life. The film is fairly sure to appeal to these who like the stars and enjoy the melodramatic blend of entertainment and crime.

1. Interesting and enjoyable melodrama? Portrait of a nightclub singer? The gangster world of Prohibition?

2. Black and white photography, the re-creation of the 20s and '30s? The nightclub and gangster world? The musical score? Oscar-winning song?

3. The title and its focus on Joe E. Lewis, the gambling overtones?

4. The portrait of Lewis? Frank Sinatra's presence and style: as actor, singer? His growing success? The hoodlums bashing him? The slashing his vocal chords? The effect on his life? Down and out? His friendship with Austin Hack? Hack rediscovering him? loyal support, building up his act? His success in the nightclubs? Entertainment style? his drinking? Gambling, racing? His entanglement with women? His love for Martha Stewart? Marriage to her? Love for Letty Page? the failure of the relationship? His relationship with Cassie Hack? With the Coogans? His finally being alone - a nightclub success only?

5. Austin Mack and his ability with the piano, friendship with Lewis? Loss of contact? Rediscovering him? Building him up? Support? Cassie and her support?

6. Martha and Letty? The worlds from which they came? Lewis's fascination with them? Their response to his? Their efforts to support him? Exasperation? Failures in relationship?

7. The background of the gangsters, the hoodlums, their violence? Prohibition and gambling? The racetrack and betting? The sleazy world of gangsterism?

8. A piece of Americana? the Prohibition era?