The Man with the Golden Arm is a 1955 film, based on the novel by Nelson Algren, which tells the story of a heroin addict who got clean while in prison but struggles to stay straight in the outside world. It stars Frank Sinatra, Eleanor Parker, Kim Novak, Arnold Stang and Darren McGavin.

Adapted for the screen by Walter Newman, Lewis Meltzer and Ben Hecht (uncredited) from the novel by Nelson Algren, The Man With the Golden Arm was directed by Otto Preminger and nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Frank Sinatra), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture. Sinatra was also nominated for best actor awards by the BAFTAs and The New York Film Critics.

The film was controversial for its time; the Motion Picture Association of America refused to certify the film because it shows drug addiction. The film was released without the MPAA's seal of approval, a maverick approach that no doubt bolstered the film's mainstream appeal. This sparked a change in production codes, allowing movies more freedom to more deeply explore hitherto taboo subjects such drugs abuse, kidnapping, abortion and prostitution.

Frank Sinatra -- who jumped at a chance to star in the film before reading the entire script -- actually spent time at drug rehabilitation clinics observing addicts going cold turkey. The script for the film landed on the desk of Marlon Brando around the same time as it did Sinatra; he still harboured some anger at Brando since he'd outdone Sinatra for the lead-role in On the Waterfront.

Frankie Machine is a skilled card dealer and one-time heroin addict. When he returns home from jail, he struggles to find a new livelihood and to avoid slipping back into addiction. Written by Mike Campanelli