The Joker Is Wild (1957)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Charles Vidor

Writers:

Art Cohn (book)
Oscar Saul (writer)

Release Date:

October 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Musical

Plot:

Frank Sinatra plays Joe E. Lewis, a famous comedian of the 1930s-50s. When the movie opens, Lewis is a young...

Plot Keywords:

Speakeasy | Chicago Illinois | Jazz | Based On Book

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Frank Sinatra	...	Joe E. Lewis
Mitzi Gaynor	...	Martha Stewart
Jeanne Crain	...	Letty Page
Eddie Albert	...	Austin Mack
Beverly Garland	...	Cassie Mack
Jackie Coogan	...	Swifty Morgan
Barry Kelley	...	Capt. Hugh McCarthy
Ted de Corsia	...	Georgie Parker
Leonard Graves	...	Tim Coogan
Valerie Allen	...	Flora, Chorine
Hank Henry	...	Burlesque comedian
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ned Glass	...	Johnson (unconfirmed)

Also Known As:

All the Way (USA) (reissue title)
The Joker (USA)

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #18482) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Company:

AMBL Productions

Trivia:

For some unknown reason, Jack "Machine Gun" McGurn is portrayed in this film as "Tim Coogan."

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Joe is looking at the building directory, the close-up shows "MORRIS WILLIAM". Yet in the next shot as Joe turns to go to the elevator, it says "MORRIS Wm"

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Batman: The Joker Is Wild (#1.5)" (1966)

Soundtrack:

Out of Nowhere

The Joker is Wild - Sinatras best

Amazing biography of an amazing man. Joe E. Lewis was the quintessential star of the roaring 20's, with apologies to Al Jolson. A great singer who crossed the wrong people and paid for it with a slashed throat. Sinatra's performance is beyond belief. Already noted as a great actor he outdoes himself. It's been heard that FS "walked" through his roles but not here. Shows how much respect he had for Lewis. A great supporting cast ( Eddie Albert, Jeanne Crain, Mitzi Gaynor and Jackie Coogan) help the film but without the "Chairman of the Board" it would have been just another biography. Sinatra's rendition of "All the Way" is not to be missed. Do yourself a favor and see this movie.