The Joker Is Wild

The Joker Is Wild

126 mins | Drama | Sept. 26, 1957

Prohibition-era nightclub crooner Joe E. Lewis has his career and nearly his life cut short when his throat is slashed as payback for leaving the employ of Chicago mob boss Georgie Parker. A broken alcoholic, Joe is brought back from the abyss by his faithful piano player, Austin Mack, who helps turn the former singer into a successful stand-up comedian. But Joe's demons plague his romantic life even as he reaches new heights of success.

The Joker Is Wild

126 mins | Drama | Sept. 26, 1957

The Joker Is Wild
Prohibition-era nightclub crooner Joe E. Lewis has his career and nearly his life cut short when his throat is slashed as payback for leaving the employ of Chicago mob boss Georgie Parker. A broken alcoholic, Joe is brought back from the abyss by his faithful piano player, Austin Mack, who helps turn the former singer into a successful stand-up comedian. But Joe's demons plague his romantic life even as he reaches new heights of success.
IMDb rating 7.0
Producers Paramount, AMBL Productions
Original title The Joker Is Wild
Directors Charles Vidor
Writers Art Cohn, Oscar Saul

Cast

Frank Sinatra

as Joe E. Lewis

Mitzi Gaynor

as Martha Stewart

Jeanne Crain

as Letty Page

Eddie Albert

as Austin Mack

Beverly Garland

as Cassie Mack

Jackie Coogan

as Swifty Morgan

Barry Kelley

as Captain Hugh McCarthy

Ted de Corsia

as Georgie Parker

Leonard Graves

as Tim Coogan

Valerie Allen

as Chorine

Hank Henry

as Burlesque Comedian

Sophie Tucker

as Self

Eric Alden

as Doorman at the Copacabana (uncredited)

Jerry Antes

as Vegas Speciality Dancer (uncredited)

Bill Baldwin

as Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)

Bobby Barber

as Waiter (uncredited)

Don Beddoe

as Heckler at the Copacabana (uncredited)

Russ Bender

as Man in Hotel Suite (uncredited)

John Benson

as Hood (uncredited)

Billie Bird

as Ticket Seller / Cashier (uncredited)

Jan Bradley

as Telephone Operator (uncredited)

Judith Bradshaw

as Chorine (uncredited)

Wally Brown

as Las Vegas Heckler (uncredited)

Paul Bryar

as Heckler (uncredited)

Benny Burt

as Taxicab Driver (uncredited)

Florine Carlan

as Chorine (uncredited)

Fred Catania

as Bouncer at Silver Door (uncredited)

James Cavanaugh

as Burlesque Straight Man (uncredited)

Edith Clair

as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Audrey Conti

as Girl in Hotel Suite (uncredited)

Jimmy Cross

as Jack (uncredited)

Jann Darlyn

as Girl in Hotel Suite (uncredited)

Joseph Donte

as Man in Hotel Suite (uncredited)

Phyllis Douglas

as Chorine (uncredited)

Heidi Duval

as Chorine (uncredited)

Dick Elliott

as Shaving Man (uncredited)

Shirley Falls

as Flashy Blonde (uncredited)

Franklyn Farnum

as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Darlene Fields

as Chorine (uncredited)

Kathleen Gallant

as Heckler's Wife (uncredited)

Paul Gary

as Man in Hotel Suite (uncredited)

H.W. Gim

as Janitor (uncredited)

Mary Gleason

as Girl on Chair (uncredited)

Regina Gleason

as Girl in Hotel Suite (uncredited)

Joe Gray

as Fighter (uncredited)

Reita Green

as Chorine (uncredited)

Donna Jo Gribble

as Chorine (uncredited)

Kit Guard

as Doorman at the Valencia (uncredited)

John Harding

as Johnny Allen (uncredited)

Maurice Hart

as Man on Squawk Box (voice) (uncredited)

Ed Haskett

as Casino Patron (uncredited)

Len Hendry

as Heckler (uncredited)

Bill Hickman

as Hood with Knife (uncredited)

Paula Hill

as Chorine (uncredited)

Harold Huber

as Harry Bliss (uncredited)

Edward Ingram

as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Dorothy Johnson

as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Lorna Jordon

as Waitress (uncredited)

Howard Joslin

as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Kenner G. Kemp

as Elevator Operator / Man at Benefit (uncredited)

Jack Kenney

as Hotel Clerk (uncredited)

Walter Woolf King

as Mr. Page (uncredited)

Richard Kipling

as Man at Craps Table (uncredited)

Lucy Knoch

as Chorine (uncredited)

Joseph La Cava

as Waiter (uncredited)

Estelle Lawrence

as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Ned Le Fevre

as Austin (voice) (uncredited)

Joanna Lee

as Chorine (uncredited)

Carl M. Leviness

as Wedding Guest (uncredited)

Artie Lewis

as Man in Hotel Suite (uncredited)

Audrey Lowell

as Chorine (uncredited)

Mike Mahoney

as Man at Benefit / Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Helene Marshall

as Girl in Hotel Suite (uncredited)

Leon Martin

as Man in Hotel Suite (uncredited)

Thomas Martin

as Casino Patron (uncredited)

Oliver McGowan

as Judge (uncredited)

Dennis McMullen

as Photographer (uncredited)

Ron McNeil

as Cab Driver (uncredited)

William Meader

as Man in Hotel Suite (uncredited)

Sid Melton

as Racetrack Runner (uncredited)

Paul Millard

as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Harold Miller

as Nightclub Patron / Man at Benefit (uncredited)

Frank Mills

as Florist Truck Driver (uncredited)

Ralph Montgomery

as Man in Hotel Suite (uncredited)

Pat Moran

as Man at Craps Table (uncredited)

Sol Murgi

as Wedding Guest (uncredited)

Forbes Murray

as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

William H. O'Brien

as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

George Offerman, Jr.

as Elevator Starter (uncredited)

Alan Paige

as Man in Hotel Suite (uncredited)

Murray Pollack

as Casino Patron (uncredited)

William Pullen

as Letty's Husband (uncredited)

Mabel Rea

as Chorine (uncredited)

Edna Ryan

as Chorine (uncredited)

Paul Salata

as Hood (uncredited)

Cosmo Sardo

as Maitre D' (uncredited)

Jeffrey Sayre

as Elevator Passenger / Slot Machine Player (uncredited)

Jerry Sheldon

as Casino Patron (uncredited)

Billy Snyder

as Man in Hotel Suite (uncredited)

Ann Stebbins

as Chorine (uncredited)

Jack Stoney

as Racetrack Patron / Football Game Spectator (uncredited)

Robert Strong

as Waiter (uncredited)

Brick Sullivan

as Wedding Guest (uncredited)

Elliott Sullivan

as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Kay Tapscott

as Chorine (uncredited)

Harriette Tarler

as Chorine (uncredited)

June Tolley

as Girl in Hotel Suite (uncredited)

Mary Treen

as Heckler (uncredited)

Ned Wever

as Dr. Pierson (uncredited)

Dave White

as Officer (uncredited)

Eric Wilton

as Samuels (Letty's Butler) (uncredited)