Pal Joey (1957)
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75% of critics liked it
(8 reviews) -
67% of users liked it
(2,818 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… 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
- Directed By
- George Sidney
- Written By
- Dorothy Kingsley, John O'Hara
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1957 Wide
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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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).
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The film goes up in flames when its '50s morality rears its ugly head.
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Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Sinatra is fantastic.
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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.
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Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
Flawed, but see it for Rita.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Rita Hayworth
as Vera Simpson
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Frank Sinatra
as Joey Evans
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Kim Novak
as Linda English
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Barbara Nichols
as Gladys
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Bobby Sherwood
as Ned Galvin
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Hank Henry
as Mike Miggins
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Elizabeth Patterson
as Mrs. Casey
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Robin Morse
as Bartender
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Frank Wilcox
as Col. Langley
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Pierre Watkin
as Mr. Forsythe
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Barry Bernard
as Anderson
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Ellie Kent
as Carol
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Mara McAfee
as Sabrina
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Betty Utey
as Patsy
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Bek Nelson
as Lola
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Leon Alton
as Printer Salesman
- Maurice Argent
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Tol Avery
as Detective
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Steve Benton
as Electrician
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George Chan
as Chinese Pianist
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Jean Corbett
as Specialty Dance Double
- George de Normand
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Franklin Farnum
as Person
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Bess Flowers
as Person
- George Ford
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Everett Glass
as Pet Store Owner
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John Hubbard
as Stanley
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Henry McCann
as Shorty
- Al Nalbandian
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James Seay
as Livingston
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Frank Sully
as Barker
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Hermes Pan
as Choreographer
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Judy Dan
as Hat Check Girl
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Jane Chung
as Flower Lady
- Joseph Miksak
- Oliver Cross
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Gail Bonney
as Heavy-Set Woman
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George Nardelli
as Headwaiter
- Eddie Bartell
- Sydney Chatton
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Giselle D'Arc
as Vera's Maid
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Robert Anderson
as Policeman
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Michael Ferris
as Tailor
