Pal Joey (1957)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

George Sidney

Writers:

Dorothy Kingsley (screenplay) and
John O'Hara (book)
(more)

Release Date:

25 October 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

From Your Pal, Columbia!

Plot:

Joey Evans is charming, handsome, funny, talented, and a first class, A-number-one heel. When Joey meets...

Plot Keywords:

Chorus Girl | Womanizer | Charity Auction | Jealousy | Striptease

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Rita Hayworth	...	Vera Simpson
Frank Sinatra	...	Joey Evans
Kim Novak	...	Linda English
Barbara Nichols	...	Gladys
Bobby Sherwood	...	Ned Galvin
Hank Henry	...	Mike Miggins
Elizabeth Patterson	...	Mrs. Casey
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Leon Alton	...	Printer Salesman (uncredited)
Isabel Analla	...	(uncredited)
Robert Anderson	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Maurice Argent	...	Second Tailor (uncredited)
Tol Avery	...	Detective (uncredited)
Rita Barrett	...	Stripper (uncredited)
Eddie Bartell	...	Barker (uncredited)
Steve Benton	...	Electrician (uncredited)
Barry Bernard	...	Vera's Butler (uncredited)
Gail Bonney	...	Heavyset Woman (uncredited)
Sue Boomer	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Paul Cesari	...	Pet Store Co-Owner (uncredited)
George Chan	...	Chinese Pianist (uncredited)
Barrie Chase	...	Dancer in Daydream Sequence (uncredited)
Sydney Chatton	...	Barker (uncredited)
Nellie Gee Ching	...	Chinese Dancer (uncredited)
Jane Chung	...	Flower Lady (uncredited)
Jean Corbett	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Oliver Cross	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Judy Dan	...	Hat Check Girl (uncredited)
Giselle D'Arc	...	Vera's Maid (uncredited)
Jules Davis	...	Red-Faced Man (uncredited)
George DeNormand	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Helen Elliot	...	Travelers' Aid (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum	...	Person (uncredited)
Elizabeth Fenton	...	Chinese Dancer (uncredited)
Michael Ferris	...	First Tailor (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Person (uncredited)
George Ford	...	Electrician (uncredited)
Allen Gin	...	Chinese Drummer (uncredited)
Everett Glass	...	Pet Store Owner (uncredited)
Bob Glenn	...	Sailor (uncredited)
Connie Graham	...	Stripper (uncredited)
Bobbie Jean Henson	...	Stripper (uncredited)
John Hubbard	...	Stanley (uncredited)
Ellie Kent	...	Carol (uncredited)
Cheryl Kubert	...	Girl Friend (uncredited)
Pat Lynn	...	Chinese Dancer (uncredited)
Ramon Martinez	...	Headwaiter (uncredited)
Mara McAfee	...	Sabrina (uncredited)
Henry McCann	...	Shorty (uncredited)
Raymond A. McWalters	...	Army Captain (uncredited)
Joe Miksak	...	Barker (uncredited)
Ernesto Molinari	...	Tony the Chef (uncredited)
Robin Morse	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Jean Nakaba	...	Chinese Dancer (uncredited)
Al Nalbandian	...	Barker (uncredited)
George Nardelli	...	Headwaiter (uncredited)
Bek Nelson	...	Lola (uncredited)
Ilsa Ostroffsky	...	Stripper (uncredited)
Roberto Piperio	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Edith Powell	...	Stripper (uncredited)
Jack Railey	...	Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited)
Mabel Rea	...	(uncredited)
Robert Reed	...	Boy Friend (uncredited)
Hermie Rose	...	Bald Club Owner (uncredited)
James Seay	...	Livingston (uncredited)
Howard Sigrist	...	Sidewalk Photographer (uncredited)
Jo Ann Smith	...	Stripper (uncredited)
Genie Stone	...	Girl (uncredited)
Frank Sully	...	Barker (uncredited)
Betty Utey	...	Patsy (uncredited)
Pierre Watkin	...	Mr. Forsythe (uncredited)
Frank Wilcox	...	Col. Langley (uncredited)
Frank Wilimarth	...	Sidewalk Artist (uncredited)
Andrew Wong	...	Chinese Club Owner (uncredited)
Lessie Lynne Wong	...	Chinese Dancer (uncredited)
Barbara Yung	...	Chinese Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
George Sidney

Writing credits
John O'Hara		(musical play) uncredited
Dorothy Kingsley		(screenplay)
John O'Hara		book

Produced by
Fred Kohlmar	....	producer

Original Music by
George Duning		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Harold Lipstein

Film Editing by
Viola Lawrence
Jerome Thoms

Art Direction by
Walter Holscher

Set Decoration by
Louis Diage
William Kiernan

Costume Design by
Jean Louis		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Helen Hunt	....	hair stylist
Ben Lane	....	makeup artist
Robert J. Schiffer	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Arthur S. Black Jr.	....	assistant director (as Art Black)

Sound Department
Franklin Hansen	....	sound
John P. Livadary	....	recording supervisor (as John Livadary)

Camera and Electrical Department
Albert Bettcher	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Richard H. Kline	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Ralph James Hall	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
George Duning	....	music adaptor
Fred Karger	....	music advisor
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator
Nelson Riddle	....	music adaptor
Nelson Riddle	....	music arranger
Morris Stoloff	....	conductor
Morris Stoloff	....	music supervisor
Bill Miller	....	musician: piano (uncredited)

Other crew
George Abbott	....	producer: stage play
Henri Jaffa	....	technicolor color consultant
Hermes Pan	....	choreographer
Robert E. Blair	....	dog trainer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Essex Productions
• George Sidney Productions

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1957) (USA) (theatrical)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1989) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Sunset Gower Studios  sound stages

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Finland:S | UK:PG | USA:Approved | West Germany:6

Filming Locations:

Berkeley Train Station - 4th Street and University Avenue, Berkeley, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Billy Wilder was the original choice to direct. He discussed it with Columbia studio head Harry Cohn over lunch one day. Not only did Cohn turn down him as director, but he later sent Wilder a bill for their lunch.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the beginning of the film, Joey is led by two policemen who hold him by his arms. When they approach the train, Joey's raincoat lapels are untidy. Next shot they are neat.

Quotes:

Joey Evans: Good Morning!
Linda English: What's good about it?
Joey Evans: First hangover? Well, there's a first time for everything.
Linda English: Why do people drink when you feel so awful the morning after?
Joey Evans: Maybe because it feels so good the night before.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Glamour à Hollywood par George Sidney (2002)

Soundtrack:

My Funny Valentine

If you like musicals of this period, don't miss "Pal Joey."

Another marvelous effort from prolific director George Sidney, who once again displays an uncanny ability to make us wish we lived in the and time and place of his films. The classic Rogers and Hart songs selected from the smorgasbord written for the original 1940 play alone make this movie well worth a look.

Gene Kelly, a chorus boy a year earlier, was cast in the title role in the original but critically panned "Joey" of 1940. The story line for "Joey" was too sleazy and cynical for the 40's, but today comes across better than the average fare in support of many musicals of the period.

Frank Sinatra is well suited as the film-version Joey. His musical and acting styles add contemporary flavors that are as appealing in the 1950's film version as they were in the critically acclaimed 1952 revival of the play featuring Harold Lang as Joey. Frank's signature song delivery retains, but also in part redefines in a more contemporary way, the classic appeal of the best show tunes of the 40's and 50's.

Although Rita Hayworth's acting talents too often are overlooked, she is the standout actor in "Joey." Casting Kim Novak in a 50's film rather defines the genre, and while she is both appealing and likable in her role, you can't help but be aware that she is stretching her limits as an actor, singer, and dancer.

Finally, the film is a visual treat, and San Francisco a more than an adequate substitute for Chicago. Don't analyze, just sit back and enjoy.