Pal Joey (1957)

75% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
68% of users liked it
(2,757 ratings)

The John O'Hara/Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart Broadway musical Pal Joey created quite a stir during its original theatrical run in 1940. Here we had a heel of a hero who sleeps with a wealthy older woman in order to realize his dream of owning his own nightclub, and who breaks the heart of the girl… More The John O'Hara/Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart Broadway musical Pal Joey created quite a stir during its original theatrical run in 1940. Here we had a heel of a hero who sleeps with a wealthy older woman in order to realize his dream of owning his own nightclub, and who breaks the heart of the girl who truly loves him when she impedes his plans to get ahead. Blossom Time it wasn't. Due to the seamy nature of the plot and the double- and single-entendre song lyrics (especially the original words for "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered", which you aren't likely to hear on most mainstream recordings of this tune), Pal Joey could not be faithfully filmed back in the 1940s. Even this 1957 version, made at a time when movie censorship was beginning to relax, was extensively sanitized for public consumption. Ambitious singer/dancer Joey (Frank Sinatra) is still something of a louse, but a redeemable one. The relationship between Joey and his older benefactress Vera Simpson (Rita Hayworth, who was actually a few years younger than Sinatra) is one of implication rather than overt statement. And Joey's true love, chorine Linda English (Kim Novak), is as pure as the driven snow, who vehemently expresses distaste at having to perform a striptease. The Rodgers and Hart songs ("I Could Write a Book" the aforementioned "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered") which seemed so cynical and ironic back in 1940, are given the typically lush, luxurious Hollywood treatment (many of the tunes, notably "There's a Small Hotel", were borrowed from other Rodgers and Hart shows, a not uncommon practice of the time). Pal Joey is nice to look at and consummately performed, but don't expect the bite of the original play, or the John O'Hara short stories which preceded them. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 51 min.
Directed By: George Sidney
Written By: Dorothy Kingsley, John O'Hara
Genres: Drama, Romance, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1957 Wide
On DVD: Dec 14, 1999
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Due to restrictions of the Production Code, George Sidney's musical of John O'Hara's outre 1940 stage show is compromised, but there some good songs and visual pleasure in watchning Columbia's stars Rita Hayworth and Kim Novak (though they're dubbed).
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The film goes up in flames when its '50s morality rears its ugly head.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Sinatra is fantastic.
Willie Waffle, WaffleMovies.com
The first half of the film is light-hearted and full of wonderful musical numbers ... but Sinatra shows his acting ability in the second half.
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
Flawed, but see it for Rita.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

A pretty good movie with a brilliant cast, I didn't get to see the whole film, but it looked pretty good. I'd like to see the whole movie sometime.
Sunil J

Probably better as a musical then a lame movie.

Cast

            Rita Hayworth as Vera Simpson

            Frank Sinatra as Joey Evans

            Kim Novak as Linda English

            Barbara Nichols as Gladys

            Bobby Sherwood as Ned Galvin

            Hank Henry as Mike Miggins

            Elizabeth Patterson as Mrs. Casey

            Robin Morse as Bartender

            Frank Wilcox as Col. Langley

            Pierre Watkin as Mr. Forsythe

            Barry Bernard as Anderson

            Ellie Kent as Carol

            Mara McAfee as Sabrina

            Betty Utey as Patsy

            Bek Nelson as Lola

            Leon Alton as Printer Salesman

            Maurice Argent
            
            Tol Avery as Detective

            Steve Benton as Electrician

            George Chan as Chinese Pianist

            Jean Corbett as Specialty Dance Double

            George de Normand
            
            Franklin Farnum as Person

            Bess Flowers as Person

            George Ford
            
            Everett Glass as Pet Store Owner

            John Hubbard as Stanley

            Henry McCann as Shorty

            Al Nalbandian
            
            James Seay as Livingston

            Frank Sully as Barker

            Hermes Pan as Choreographer

            Judy Dan as Hat Check Girl

            Jane Chung as Flower Lady

            Joseph Miksak
            
            Oliver Cross
            
            Gail Bonney as Heavy-Set Woman

            George Nardelli as Headwaiter

            Eddie Bartell
            
            Sydney Chatton
            
            Giselle D'Arc as Vera's Maid

            Robert Anderson as Policeman

            Michael Ferris as Tailor
See full cast