Academy Award Nominations: Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Music, Best Art Direction
BAFTA Award Nominations: Best Film, Best Foreign Actor
Locarno Film Festival

Frank Sinatra plays a dried-out addict who returns to Chicago with big plans of becoming a jazz drummer. His wife wants him to return to poker playing (the "golden arm" of the title) and the local drug dealer (Darren McGavin of Night Stalker fame) wants him for a customer. When he hits the night clubs, Sinatra falls for a professional bar hostess (Kim Novak) while sliding further and further back into his addiction until he feels that something has to give.