Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

The first must-see film of the year.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Anybody who loves Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth and Richard Rodgers will be in their element here. Sinatra is the standout of the film, Joey was more cynical in the original stage version but Sinatra still brings a caddish persona and does so with great charm and energy. And of course his singing is divine, of the mellow and rich kind- most lovely to listen to- and with great circular breathing technique. Hayworth is not at her best but she is still breathtakingly beautiful, one of the most beautiful actresses on film, and sassy. And the songs are great, Pal Joey like most Richard Rodgers scores is one of those musicals where every song works but Lady is a Tramp is a real standout here. Sinatra, Hayworth and the songs are not the only things to enjoy. Pal Joey also has opulent production values, Hayworth's figure-hugging dresses are to die for, fluid photography, George Sidney's enigmatic and not heavy-handed direction, a witty script, a charming if watered-down story and smart energetic choreography. For this viewer the only things that came across as flaws were the out-of-kilter happy ending and while beautiful Kim Novak's performance is rather pallid. All in all, a very good underrated film. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Joey Evans (Frank Sinatra) is a two-bit night club singer, a womanizer, and cad. He lands in a San Francisco saloon and starts romancing a wealthy older woman (Rita Hayworth) and a sweet chorus girl (Kim Novak).When I saw this movie in 1957 I fell head over heels for Frank and the sophisticated night club scene, but now Frank's Joey seems like a heartless sleaze, the clubs look cheap, and the movie is hopelessly dated. It was made at the height of Frank's ring-a-ding-ding movie popularity but he just seems mean-spirited and selfish and both of his co-stars outweigh him. Rita was made up to look much older than her 39 years, but she's drab and dull, a far cry from her earlier glory days. Kim looks good (without those thick eyebrows from "Vertigo"), but her singing voice is a disaster and she isn't much of a dancer. A beatnik-style dance featuring both ladies is just embarrassing.On the plus side, the songs are terrific. The show is filled with memorable Rogers and Hart tunes such as "The Lady is a Tramp," "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered," "I Could Write a Book," "There's a Small Hotel," and "My Funny Valentine."The movie is glossy and pretty with lavish gowns and furs and picturesque San Francisco as a location, but Joey is an off-putting character and I didn't care about any of the stars. What was once ultra-cool and sophisticated now seems tawdry and pathetic. Good songs, though.

This is part of the Kim Novak 5-movie DVD set issued this month, August 2010. The picture and sound are very nice, and there is an extra which features Kim Novak at work and at home in present time.Rita Hayworth was already a veteran of the screen, and in fact was approaching the latter stages of her career, even though she wasn't yet 40. Frank Sinatra was over 40, but still in his prime. And the newcomer was Kim Novak, still only 23 or so during filming. The three of them end up in a romantic triangle that stays interesting all the way through, with some good songs and production numbers.As the movie opens we see that Frank Sinatra as the title character, Joey Evans, that some call 'Pal Joey', is being put on a train and thrown out of another city. This seems to be his life, he has great ambition and does not hesitate to take advantage of anyone he can. In fact he seems to treat everyone as a way to get something he wants. With a pretty girl all he wants is the hope of a one-night stand.Joey lands in San Francisco and at the nightspot 'Barbary Coast' he insinuates himself when the 'MC' is late, and in spite of his poor reputation is given the job. He will be 'MC' for the acts at the supper club and do songs himself.One of the showgirls is Kim Novak as Linda English. Joey falls for her immediately, and figures out a way to get a room right next to hers in the boarding house. In fact they must share a bathroom, which makes other aspects easy for Joey.But Joey's ambition is to have is own entertainment place, and he needs someone to put up the money. Enter Rita Hayworth as Vera Simpson, recently a widow and rich, but with a past as a stripper that she hoped everyone forgot about. Despite some rough edges between Vera and Joey, she agrees to bankroll the new supper club, 'Chez Joey.' Not all goes smoothly.SPOILERS: Vera wants Joey for herself, more as a boy-toy than as a true love. But when it becomes apparent that Joey has his eyes on Linda, Vera insists that Joey fire her, otherwise the 'Chez Joey' venture will be closed down. Which she ends up doing as the opening night arrives. Linda feels bad, goes to Vera and says she will quit, and Vera goes to Joey and tells him she will open is place. But he no longer has any trust in her, doesn't like someone else pulling his strings, and packs up to head for Sacramento. Linda won't take 'no' for an answer and goes with him, even though he tells her that he is sure to disappoint her. The movie ends with a beautiful scene of the two of them on the San Francisco wharf with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background framed by colored clouds at sunset.

I really wanted to like this colourful adaptation of one of Rogers and Hart's last and most successful shows and attracted by big names like Sinatra, Hayworth and Novak, thought I couldn't lose. Sheesh, was I wrong.Concerning ne'erdowell Joey (Sinatra's) self-obsessed attempts to get himself up the greasy pole to his own club in San Francisco and no doubt attendant fame and fortune, the film fails ultimately for a number of reasons. First Frank's character just isn't desperate enough, purportedly down on his luck, he always looks perfectly turned out, even before he becomes wealthy widow Hayworth's kept man. And the idea to give this hard-bitten Casanova a cute puppy dog is just wrong on so many levels. His character never seems to stop talking and often re-hashes the same stock phrases, which gets wearing after a while. As for Hayworth and Novak, both look fantastic, filmed in great clothes in great light, as befits two of the sexiest women to ever come out of Tinseltown, but the former lacks that dare I say it, Norma Desmond controlling, self-deluding and even slightly deranged conviction which would have made her character more rounded while Novak gets to play a whimpering simpering child, completely at odds with her overly sensual demeanour.Some of the scenes are ridiculously contrived too, like Novak's strip-tease, her later passing out on Sinatra when they're on Hayworth's yacht and Joey's dream sequence when both his loves sashay around him like bees to honey. Worst of all is Hayworth's "Sugar Mommy" backing out of the competition for Joey by personally fetching Novak for their hold-hands, run-at-the-camera, big love shot at the conclusion.On the plus side, as indicated, the stars all look great, Sinatra too, being in the middle of his classic Capitol series of recordings, even getting to quote one of his catch-phrases "Ring-a-ding-ding" at one point. The San Francisco locations are also easy on the eye and the musical numbers excellent, including "The Lady Is a Tramp", "My Funny Valentine" and "Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered" amongst them. Unfortunately, the movie dialogue too rarely matches the sharpness of Lorenz Hart's lyrics. Damon Runyan, this ain't.A missed opportunity them and I'm not sure I can tell quite why. Some shows may just work well on stage, I'm guessing this is one of them.