The 1955 film "The Man with the Golden Arm" is based on Nelson Algren's 1949 novel of the same title. The film is set in the early 1950's Chicago and features US coins and currency notes in gambling scenes. Frankie Machine (Frank Sinatra) is released from jail and drug addiction treatment and returns to his home in a lower-class neighborhood in Chicago. Frankie learned how to play drums during his stay and hopes to become a professional musician. He runs into his old acquaintances and soon resumes his prevous life as a professional poker dealer for two local crooks and his addiction to a drug which is not named but which appears to be heroin. Frankie serves as dealer for two poker games, the first is a low stakes game and the second a high stakes game. During the first game some US currency ($1 and $5 bills) and coins are shown on the table and during the second game only higher denomination bills ($20, $50, and $100) are shown. The coins and currency in the film are real United States coins and currency which was unusual for the time as most films used imitation stage money currency and prop tokens as coins.

The film titles were created by Saul Bass who also created the titles for the 1960 film "Psycho" which coincidentaly also used real United States currency in some scenes. Frankie Machine returns to his old neighborhood after a six-month stay at a prison drug rehabilitation facility.

The sign reads "Hot Dogs 10¢", another sign reads "Girls." Frankie brings with him a set of drums which he has learned to play at the facility. He is determined to become a professional musician and to stay away from drugs. He soon begins to encounter his old friends and also others he would not like to meet. Louie, a local gangster and drug pusher, finds Frankie.

Louie offers Frankie a "fix" or an injection of a drug which Frankie refuses. Louie cynically tells Frankie that "I'll be around." Frankie heads for his apartment.

Frankie's loving wife Zosh awaits him with a mispelled sign. Several years previously Frankie was drunk and driving Zosh when he had an accident which left Zosh in a wheelchair. She has used her condition to tie Frankie to her, and is also constantly not supportive of his hopes and plans for his life. Frankie had a girlfriend, Molly, who also finds him again.

A really old telephone is shown in this scene. Frankie had been a professional card dealer for illegal poker games before he went to prison. He no longer wishes to deal but his two former associates, Zero Schwiefka and Louie, soon manuever him into dealing cards again. Frankie is ordered to deal a small stakes poker game.

The men are Frankie, Zero, an unidentified player, a local man "Sparrow", and Louie. Zero and Louie's goal is always to take out of town gamblers for their money. United States currency and coins are shown on the table.

On the table are $5 bills, lots of quarters (25 cent coins), and at least one half dollar. The quarters above the $5 bills are of the Washington type obverse minted since 1932.

On the table is a pile of $1 bills, some half dollars, and some quarters. The reverse of the half dollar coin appears to be of the Franklin type bell reverse minted since 1948. Back at Frankie and Zosh's apartment, Frankie has arranged for a doctor to look at Zosh.

The doctor is a "quack" or fraud who brings some kind of machine with him. Zosh keeps a scrap book about her accident and again with her mispellings. Frankie, frustated with his life, decides to visit Louie.

Frankie uses a necktie to tie his arm to expose the vein while Louie prepares the drug for injection. Frankie would like to see Molly more but between her job as a nightclub hostess and his wife, he can't see her much. His plans to become a musician are also stalled. After another argument with his wife, he takes some money to get another fix.

The price of a heroin "fix" is three dollars. Zero and Louie have two wealthy gamblers coming to town and want Frankie to deal again.

This game is for much higher stakes than the first game.

The two visiting gamblers are, on the left, Williams, the big man, and Markette, the little man.

There is lots of paper cash on the table and no coins this time.

On the table is a pile of bills, they are $20 bills (a few), $50 bills, and $100 bills. Again these are real currency notes.

Unfortunately for Zero and Louie, the visiting gamblers are winning heavily. The pair threaten Frankie and order him to use his "mechanic" skills to cheat the visitors.

The game has gone on for a long time and Frankie is tired. The gambler Williams catches Frankie dealing an extra card.

Williams jumps up to grab Frankie and begins punching him.

Zero and Louie make "apologies" for Frankie and all the men leave. Frankie tries to get a fix from Louie but Louie refuses and Frankie hits him. Louie later heads to Frankie's apartment to beat him up and encounters Zosh.

Zosh is standing and Louie realizes that she can walk. Louie lets her know that he will tell everyone and she pushes him down the stairs. Frankie was not at home but at Molly's.

He wants another fix and Molly offers him money but tells him if he takes it she will never see him again. They also find out that the police believe that Frankie killed Louie and are looking for him. She suggests that Frankie go "cold turkey" or not use drugs for some time before talking to the police. Frankie has Molly lock him in a room while he experiences withdrawal fits. She then visits Zosh.

The two women argue over Frankie. Back at Molly's apartment, Frankie, now free of drug addiction, goes home to Zosh. The police visit Molly and she tells them where Frankie is. At Frankie's apartment he tells Zosh that he is leaving her and she forgets herself and stands up just as the police and Molly arrive.

The police realize that Zosh killed Louie and she runs outside, jumps off the balcony, and dies. Frankie decides that leaving town is the only way to stay clean.

And not alone.

Frank Sinatra as Frankie Machine
Eleanor Parker as Zosh Machine
Kim Novak as Molly Novotny
Darren McGavin as Louie Fomorowski
Robert Strauss as Zero Schwiefka
Arnold Stang as Sparrow
George Mathews as Williams (gambler)
George E. Stone as Sam Markette (gambler)
Director: Otto Preminger
Writers: Walter Newman, Lewis Meltzer, Nelson Algren (novel)