calvinnme
I enjoyed this film about a man (Frank Sinatra) who is being kept by a wealthy older woman (Rita Hayworth) despite being more interested in a young chorus girl (Kim Novak). Sinatra allows the wealth and social standing of Hayworth to lead him astray from the affections of Novak. He initially seduces Hayworth to get her to bankroll his dream nightclub--Chez Joey (corny name). Unfortunately, Hayworth ends up falling in love with Sinatra, while he still holds a torch for Novak. The crux of the story is that Sinatra ends up having to choose between his club/Hayworth (obviously dumping Hayworth and thus, dumping her money, would spell the end of Chez Joey) and his true love, Novak. I thought Hayworth was very beautiful as "the older woman" (even though she's younger than Sinatra). My only complaint about Hayworth's appearance, like my complaint about her appearance in Cover Girl, is that the makeup she has on is almost garish. She's wearing too much rouge or something, which I think aged her. Novak, on the other hand, was wearing more subtle makeup (save for the red lip) and was absolutely gorgeous as the young chorus girl. It's hard to look at anyone or anything else when Novak was on the screen. I especially loved her performance of "My Funny Valentine." Aside from 'Valentine,' many Sinatra standards were featured, like "Bewitched" ("performed" by Hayworth, dubbed by Jo Ann Greer) and "The Lady is a Tramp" (performed by Sinatra).The role of Joey Evans was pioneered by Gene Kelly on Broadway seventeen years prior on Broadway. However, for the film version, he was turned down (or perhaps not considered) for the film version and Sinatra got the role.
jhkp
Every time I watch Pal Joey, it hooks me by its interesting beginning, but I get bored around the time Joey starts planning his new night spot on Nob Hill with the help of his wealthy, older benefactress, Mrs. Simpson (Rita Hayworth), which messes up his budding relationship with a much younger "mouse," Linda English (Kim Novak).Up to that point, it's been a pretty fun show. Joey wangling his way into a nightclub job, chasing the girls at the club, exchanging barbs with one of the dancers (Barbara Nichols). His cynical friendship with an old friend, the back-and-forth with the club manager, his cute one-on-one with the landlady (Elizabeth Patterson). Etc.It's also been a treat to see Frank take the stage at the club and do one of the best numbers he ever did on screen (even if he's clearly way too talented to be scrounging for jobs as a girlie show MC).If only the breezy, atmospheric tone had continued for another few reels. But it's amazing how lugubrious the film becomes once Joey gets in with society dame Rita and starts getting his nightclub plans realized. And the delightful relationship with Novak bogs down into slush right around the same time.The three central performances are good. Sinatra's is the most three-dimensional and real. He walks a fine line, being able to make a jerk likable and attractive. (It's when we're being asked to love the jerk that the film gets a little messed up). Hayworth, 39 years old, tries and almost succeeds at being a believable cougar. But Sinatra at 38 is too old to be her boy toy. Novak is good in her attempts to do musical comedy and good in her role in general.Former MGM director George Sidney (Holiday In Mexico, Bathing Beauty, Anchors Aweigh, Show Boat, Kiss Me Kate) gets some but not all of it right. A former MGM screenwriter, Dorothy Kingsley, adapted Pal Joey for this version.
gavin6942
Joey Evans (Frank Sinatra) is charming, handsome, funny, talented, and a first class, A-number-one heel. When Joey meets the former chorus girl and now rich widow Vera Simpson (Rita Hayworth), the two lecherous souls seem made for each other.Frank Sinatra's movie career is very hit and miss. I am not, for example, a big fan of his song and dance movies with Gene Kelly. And it is not because I don't like musicals. I love Danny Kaye and such classics as "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers". I just don't think Sinatra fits in.Here he plays something of a sleazy night life character. And although it is an act he plays up, he plays it up well. Rita Hayworth also does good, and it is Kim Novak's chance to shine. For those who love Sinatra, this is well worth seeking out and deserves to be better known.
MartinHafer
When I read up on the original play for "Pal Joey" (1940), I was surprised how much it differed from this 1957 film. In fact, instead of a film version, it's more like the play was used for a starting point and that is all. Some of the songs have been retained but many were omitted and some were included from other plays! In addition, in the play, Joey was a heel from start to finish and his girlfriend was STILL married! Nice guy, huh? And, he was a dancer (Gene Kelly) not a singer. Here, Frank Sinatra sings beautifully in the lead but doesn't dance. And, while he is a womanizer and a bit of a jerk, he has buried deep within some decency--but he does a good job of hiding it through most of the film! Joey is a lounge singer and emcee at a San Francisco nightclub. There, he chases the nice girl, Kim Novak, and when he's just about won her heart, he drops her like a hot potato for a rich widow (Rita Hayworth). At first, Joey seems very happy--he gets to run his own club and is on top of the world. But this dream isn't all it's cracked up to be. What's next? See the film! Whether you like this film's plot or not, it's well worth seeing the picture because of its songs. Sinatra is in his prime and belts out some nice songs like "The Lady is a Tramp" and "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered". And, the lip synced songs by both female leads (Novak and Hayworth) are quite nice as well. As for the story, it's nice but I would wonder what a movie more like the play would have been like. The main character sure would have been a whole lot less likable! As it was, I liked the film and thought it an interesting character study for Sinatra--combining SOME of his real-life persona with Joey's. Well worth seeing and very well made.
AD
