Pal Joey [Blu-ray]

Director: George Sidney George Sidney

Overview

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.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/20/2021
UPC:	0043396575219
Original Release:	1957
Rating:	NR
Source:	ALLIED VAUGHN
Language:	English
Time:	1:49:00
Sales rank:	26,875

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Frank Sinatra	Joey Evans
Kim Novak	Linda English
Rita Hayworth	Vera Simpson
Barbara Nichols	Gladys
Bobby Sherwood	Ned Glavin
Hank Henry	Mike Miggins
Elizabeth Patterson	Mrs. Casey
Robin Morse	Bartender
Frank Wilcox	Col. Langley
Pierre Watkin	Mr. Forsythe
Barry Bernard	Anderson
Ellie Kent	Carol
Mara McAfee	Sabrina
Betty Utey	Patsy
Bek Nelson	Lola
Henry McCann	Shorty
John Hubbard	Stanley
James Seay	Livingston
Hermes Pan	Choreographer
Ernesto Molinari	Chef Tony
Jean Corbett	Specialty Dance Double
Robert Rietz	Boy Friend
Jules Davies	Red-Faced Man
Judy Dan	Hat Check Girl
Gail Bonney	Heavy-Set Woman
Cheryl Kubert	Girl Friend
Tol Avery	Detective
Al Nalbandian	Actor
Robert Anderson	Policeman
Genie Stone	Girl
Raymond McWalters	Army Captain
Bob Glenn	Sailor
Sue Boomer	Secretary
Helen Eliot	Traveler's Aid
Hermie Rose	Bald Club Owner
Jack Railey	Hot Dog Vendor
Frank Wilimarth	Sidewalk Artist
Roberto Piperio	Waiter
Bobbie Lee	Stripper
Connie Graham	Stripper
Bobbie Jean Henson	Stripper
Edith Powell	Stripper
Jo Ann Smith	Stripper
Franklin Farnum	Person,Bit
Ilsa Ostroffsky	Stripper
Rita Barrett	Stripper
Howard Sigrist	Sidewalk Photographer
Paul Cesari	Pet Store Owner
Everett Glass	Pet Store Owner
Maurice Argent	Tailor
Michael Ferris	Tailor
Eddie Bartell	Barker
Albert Nalbandian	Barker
Joseph Miksak	Barker
Sydney Chatton	Barker
Frank Sully	Barker
Andrew Wong	Chinese Club Owner,Chinese Dancer
George Chan	Chinese Pianist
Allen Gin	Chinese Drummer
Barbara Yung	Chinese Dancer
Pat Lynn	Chinese Dancer
Jean Nakaba	Chinese Dancer
Elizabeth Fenton	Chinese Dancer
Nellie Gee Ching	Chinese Dancer
George DeNormand	Bit
Oliver Cross	Bit
Bess Flowers	Bit
Giselle D'Arc	Vera's Maid
Leon Alton	Printer Salesman
Jane Chung	Flower Lady
George Ford	Electrician
Steve Benton	Electrician
Ramon Martinez	Headwaiter
George Nardelli	Headwaiter
John Alban	Actor
Al Bain	Actor
Lulu Mae Bohrman	Actor
Nick Borgani	Actor
Barrie Chase	Actor
George Duning	Composer
Nelson Riddle	Composer

Technical Credits

Dorothy Kingsley

George Sidney	Director
Dorothy Kingsley	Screenwriter
Fred Kohlmar	Producer
Franklin Hansen	Sound Effects

Editorial Reviews

It took Pal Joey 17 years to get from Broadway to Hollywood, largely because the original source material was a little too racy for filming in 1940. The film still softens the story and characters a bit, but it maintains the tart, snappy flow of the dialogue. Indeed, Dorothy Kingsley's screenplay adds even more of that flip, smooth arrogance to the dialogue, even if structurally it's slightly weak. George Sidney directs in sleek style that perfectly complements the movie's star, Frank Sinatra. It's a classic Sinatra performance, detached and casual, which changes the character from the play's loser trying to play out of his league to someone who -- no matter what the script may say -- can take on anyone that comes his way. But as long as he's singing -- especially archetypal Sinatra songs such as "The Lady Is a Tramp" and "I Could Write a Book" -- such changes don't matter. He's matched by gorgeous Rita Hayworth alternating between fire and ice, and, even though dubbed, making "Zip" a riot and "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" steam up the screen. Kim Novak is game, but she doesn't stand much of a chance up against these two. The songs, by Rodgers & Hart, are absolutely first-rate, and they're presented here to their best advantage. Overall, Pal Joey is a stylish and winning musical presented with a great deal of panache.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler