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#falltreasures #pocketbook Frank Sinatra editions!

While Algren hated the adaptation, Preminger's film was ground-breaking in several ways. Overt drug use was not a common sight on screen in 1955, so Sinatra's portrayal of an addict was shocking at the time. Add to that an era-defining animated title sequence by Saul Bass and the first all-jazz soundtrack, composed by Elmer Bernstein, and, despite its flaws (Hollywood just couldn't stomach Algren's original ending), you have a special movie.

Frankie Machine returns to Chicago with a war wound and a morphine addiction. He struggles to satisfy the demands of his overbearing wife by working part-time as a drummer in a jazz outfit, and as a dealer at illegal card games. When his drug use starts to affect his famed rhythm, Frankie gets drawn into pathetically minor crime, trying to maintain some shred of dignity. The 'happy ending' film adaptation put Algren off Hollywood for life.