The Man With The Golden Arm

Otto Preminger - 1955
Huge camera movements, in a stately but often quite quick, and always baroque, manner swooping around to reframe pretty wide shots. We have a winderful view of the constructed set of the street; combined with the probably overdone music, it gives the film an operatic quality (crossed with the reticence...); it reminded me of 'Do The Right Thing', sets wise.
It is worth saying that Frank Sinatra is very good here; looking nicely scraggy, playing well into his role. His torso is too small for his body; he looks like a man who has had illness, stomach polio or something.
This film is about a man, perhaps an artist, who is held back by others. They are petty, the way of life brings out the worst in him. There is almost a paranoia in the desperate wish for his own way, the (justified) lack of trust. This is more existentialist than Preminger's other work, and perhaps a little more in keeping with the Hollywood milleu. As far as that, it is well done.