The Joker Is Wild (1957)

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 | Beautiful Woman | 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) (alternative title)

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 "Battle of the Blades: (#1.3)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Swingin' on a Star

Frankie in Lewis Bio!

This movie has a great assortment of Sinatra standards. I enjoyed it very much and thought Frank did a credible acting job in the Joe E. Lewis role.

The ending was a little weird with his reflection in the shop windows talking back to him but hey that was a way for Hollywood heroes to express their innermost feelings to the audience. Eddie Albert who I enjoyed so much in Roman Holiday is in here. Jeanne Crain is also in here. She seemed to be a big star in her day but suprisingly, is not remembered today as some of her other contemporaries are. The story is interesting. Gaynor is good although she gets a little irritating when she pleads to Frank.