The Joker is Wild

1957

2h 6m

IMDb RATING

8.0/10

154

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15 Images

Drama

Music

A Prohibition-era nightclub crooner has his career is cut short when his throat is slashed by a mob boss.

Directors

Charles Vidor

Writers

Art Cohn(novel by)

Oscar Saul(screenplay by)

Stars

Frank Sinatra

Mitzi Gaynor

Jeanne Crain

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Videos1

Trailer
Watch Come Blow Your Horn - Trailer

Top cast

Joe E. Lewis

Martha Stewart

Letty Page

Austin Mack

Cassie Mack

Swifty Morgan

Hugh McCarthy

Georgie Parker

Tim Coogan

Chorine

Burlesque Comedian

Sophie Tucker (uncredited)

Eric Alden

Doorman at the Copacabana (uncredited)

Jerry Antes

Vegas Speciality Dancer (uncredited)

Bill Baldwin

Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)

Bobby Barber

Waiter (uncredited)

Don Beddoe

Heckler at the Copacabana (uncredited)

Russ Bender

Man in Hotel Suite (uncredited)

Directors

Charles Vidor

Writers

Art Cohn(novel by)

Oscar Saul(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

This is certainly one of my favourite Frank Sinatra performances not least because his “Joe” character actually gets to do some crooning. Indeed, it’s how this charmer makes his living, along with pianist “Austin” (Eddie Albert) singing in a nightclub. When he gets a better offer though, his boss makes it clear that moving isn’t an option. When he defies him, well surgery ensues and a period in the wilderness of New York follows with his friends, including “Austin”, unaware of his location. Then a chance encounter sets in train a bit of a reconciliation as he discovers he has a knack for patter that gets the audiences laughing. Gradually, he gets his confidence back and falls in love with “Letty” (Jeanne Crain) and all looks set fair. Success, as they say, is a two-headed beast though and with his fame, celebrity and a wartime entertainment posting, comes an addiction to gambling and to the bottle, too. With a self-destructive path stretching out before him, maybe it’s only “Martha” (Mitzi Gaynor), one of his dancers, who can stop his implosion - but that’s a very big maybe! Sinatra is at his most natural here, as is Albert, when they are on the stage and those scenes give us a good excuse to listen to the likes of “All the Way” and “I Cried for You” as well as a small dose of cyclorama-shaded Bing Crosby too! The dialogue for the stand up routines is a bit dated now, but still has some natural pith to it, especially when being heckled - “Last time I saw a mouth like that, it had a hook in it!”. The story ends quite effectively in a way that nowadays might scream sequel but then just meant that life goes on, and as an observation of the flaws of a man faced with trauma, drama and success Sinatra delivers well whilst eliciting a little sympathy too.

Geronimo196708 Jun, 2025