As a result of an unfortunate event early in his career, Joe E. Lewis (Frank Sinatra), turns to another form of entertainment to make a living. "The Joker Is Wild" charts the ups and downs in Joe's career and the effects these vicissitudes have on those around him. The film is based on the real-life story of Lewis, singer/comedian, and the plot spans the years from the late 1920s to well into the 1940s; it's set mostly in Chicago.
Emotional ups exist, but the downs in Lewis' life are profound and deep, and the overall tone of the story is depressing. The melancholy of what might have been knifes through whatever joy and laughter superficially appears at any given time. Fate is not always kind.
This film exhibits classic 3-Act structure. Acts 1 and 3 are effective; the middle Act is repetitive and overly long. At least 15 to 20 minutes could have been edited out of Act 2 to render a more efficient plot. The script is overly talky. And I could have wished for a different, more melancholy, ending to match the story's overall tone.
Both casting and acting are credible, and so is Vidor's direction. B&W lighting is clear and crisp. Some clever scenes use silhouettes behind a curtain. Background music is jazzy, with scores from the appropriate historical era. The film deservedly won an Oscar for the appropriately melancholy "All The Way", sung by Sinatra.
Though this film can correctly be thought of as a Frank Sinatra cinematic vehicle, the story itself is still compelling. It's worth watching. Despite a repetitive, bloated second Act, "The Joker Is Wild" conveys realistic and forceful human drama, thanks to fate's capricious nature.
Emotional ups exist, but the downs in Lewis' life are profound and deep, and the overall tone of the story is depressing. The melancholy of what might have been knifes through whatever joy and laughter superficially appears at any given time. Fate is not always kind.
This film exhibits classic 3-Act structure. Acts 1 and 3 are effective; the middle Act is repetitive and overly long. At least 15 to 20 minutes could have been edited out of Act 2 to render a more efficient plot. The script is overly talky. And I could have wished for a different, more melancholy, ending to match the story's overall tone.
Both casting and acting are credible, and so is Vidor's direction. B&W lighting is clear and crisp. Some clever scenes use silhouettes behind a curtain. Background music is jazzy, with scores from the appropriate historical era. The film deservedly won an Oscar for the appropriately melancholy "All The Way", sung by Sinatra.
Though this film can correctly be thought of as a Frank Sinatra cinematic vehicle, the story itself is still compelling. It's worth watching. Despite a repetitive, bloated second Act, "The Joker Is Wild" conveys realistic and forceful human drama, thanks to fate's capricious nature.