Review of Pal Joey (1957) by Jessicaann D — 21 Sep 2007

By no means Sinatra's best performance, but it is also better than many of his lackluster attempts. The real standout in this muddled tale is the music. Classics like 'Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered', 'The Lady Is a Tramp' and 'Funny Valentine' are considered as such for a reason.

Sinatra plays Joey, a singer who has hit the skids until he finds an old flame (Rita Hayworth) in San Francisco who has made good by marrying rich. Along the way he also meets a nightclub singer and dancer (Kim Novak) who inspires his interest. He is torn between opportunity with one and real love with the other.

There are few actors who can be so utterly charming and conniving in the same breath and it is here that Sinatra shines, but throughout much of the film he seems to be gliding too much on the former. We never really feel Joey's struggle, instead we are easily able to predict his outcome. Hayworth is solid despite looking a little long in tooth, Novak is lovely in a solid performance to stand beside her work in 'Vertigo'.

All in all, entertaining but empty.