The Man with the Golden Arm was a sensational movie hit in 1950, rendered even more sensational in that it initially was denied clearance by the Production Code because of its portrayal of drug use and paraphernalia.

Produced by Otto Preminger for United Artists, the film was unfavorably reviewed, and Algren himself thought the picture a misuse of film rights and purely a vehicle for its star, Frank Sinatra, who played Frankie Machine.

Forced by a lack of funds to drop his lawsuit, Algren emerged with only $15,000 for the film rights.