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The Man with the Golden Arm

1955·Movie
1h 59min·NR
73
GoodGoodWatch score

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The Man with the Golden Arm fingerprint

High energy, strong craft, light on feelings.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension8
  • Adrenaline6
  • Fast Pace6

Heart

Moving and melancholic

  • Pathos8
  • Melancholy7
  • Catharsis7

Humor

Some dark humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor6
  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Satire & Parody3

World

Crime, the mind, and society

  • Dialogue Centrality8
  • World Immersion7
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout characters, direction, and performances

  • Character Depth9
  • Direction8
  • Acting8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Music Composition7
  • Music Centrality7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightSolo WatchDrop-in FriendlyThought-Provoking

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You need an uplifting moodYou want fast pacing

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

An 'untouchable' theme… an unusual motion picture!

When illegal card dealer and recovering heroin addict Frankie Machine gets out of prison, he decides to straighten up. Armed with nothing but an old drum set, Frankie tries to get honest work as a drummer. But when his former employer and his old drug dealer re-enter his life, Frankie finds it hard to stay clean and eventually finds himself succumbing to his old habits.
Noir MelodramaHeroin AddictionRedemption StrugglePsychological DescentJazz AgeGritty RealismExistential CrisisMoral AmbiguityUrban Decay

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Man with the Golden Arm

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Man with the Golden Arm legally?

The Man with the Golden Arm is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video, Brew, FlixFling, and FILMBOX+ Stream in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on JustWatch TV, Kanopy, and Hoopla. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, and FlixFling. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Man with the Golden Arm worth watching?

73
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 73/100 (IMDb 7.3, Rotten Tomatoes 81%, and Metacritic 63). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Man with the Golden Arm rated?

NRDrug useStrong language

It's rated NR in the United States. Content advisories: drug use and strong language.

How long is The Man with the Golden Arm?

1 h 59 min

The Man with the Golden Arm runs 1 h 59 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Man with the Golden Arm?

Critics72
Audiences76

Yes. Critics average 72 and audiences 76 out of 100, so both groups see The Man with the Golden Arm much the same way.

Was The Man with the Golden Arm a box office hit?

Budget$1 million
Box office$4 million

Yes. It cost about $1 million to make and earned $4 million worldwide, 4.3 times its budget.

What language is The Man with the Golden Arm in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch The Man with the Golden Arm?

139ADAEAGALAOARATAUAZBABBBEBFBG+125

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Man with the Golden Arm in 139 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Man with the Golden Arm use?

Adaptational UglinessRule of SymbolismSympathetic AdultererToxic Friend Influence"The Reason You Suck" SpeechInternal RevealDouble-Meaning TitleEstablishing Character MomentFamily-Friendly StripperComforting ComforterWhat the Hell Is That Accent?Drugs Are Badand 18 more

TV Tropes lists 30 storytelling tropes for The Man with the Golden Arm, including Adaptational Ugliness, Rule of Symbolism, Sympathetic Adulterer.