The Joker Is Wild

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The Joker is Wild

Directed by	Charles Vidor
Produced by	Samuel J. Briskin Charles Vidor (executive producer)
Written by	Art Cohn (book 'Life of Joe E. Lewis') Oscar Saul
Starring	Frank Sinatra Mitzi Gaynor Jeanne Crain Eddie Albert Beverly Garland Jackie Coogan
Music by	Chauncey Gray (song "Bye Bye Blues") Harry Harris (songs and parodies) Walter Scharf
Cinematography	Daniel L. Fapp
Editing by	Everett Douglas
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures (1957) (USA)
Release date(s)	USA: September 26, 1957
Running time	126 min.
Language	English
IMDb profile

The Joker is Wild, starring Frank Sinatra, Jeanne Crain, and Mitzi Gaynor is a 1957 movie which tells the story of Joe E. Lewis, a singer and comedian who was popular from the 1920s to the 1950s. Sinatra read Art Cohn's book about Joe E. Lewis during the mid-'50s and was immediately taken by the story and felt compelled to buy the rights to the book even before they were published.

'Synopsis' *contains spoilers*

Joe E. Lewis (Sinatra), a succesful Chicago night-club entertainer is invited to work for the mob during the prohibition era. His refusal results in his face being slashed and his throat cut, preventing him from continuing with his current act as a singer.

Lewis soon develops an acerbic and wity sense of humour and is given a break as a stand-up comedian from singer Sophie Tucker (playing herself). Soon, Lewis makes a career for himself, but a self-destructive streak leads him to question his way of living and what his life has become.

This movie won the 1957 Academy Award for Best Song, whilst Sinatra actually become friends with the real Joe E. Lewis who commented that "You (Sinatra) had more fun playing my life than I had living it."