Pal Joey (1957)

My Review

“Pal Joey” is a musical comedy film about a singer who wants to open his own nightclub and becomes involved in a love triangle in the process. The drama-comedy proceeds from there, well put together by director George Sidney (“Bye Bye Birdie” 1963) and screenwriter Dorothy Kingsley. They turned this 1940 stage play into an excellent Frank Sinatra vehicle, who performed numerous songs including “The Lady is a Tramp” and “Bewitched.” The musical arrangements were handled by Sinatra favorite Nelson Riddle, greatly adding to the film’s exciting and undefinable atmospherics.

The cast includes Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth, Kim Novak, Barbara Nichols, Bobby Sherwood, Hank Henry, Elizabeth Patterson, and Robert Reed in his film debut as a guest seated at a table. “Pal Joey” was the eighth highest grossing film of 1957 for George Sidney Productions and Columbia Pictures. It received four Oscar nods for art direction, costume design, film editing, and sound recording.