However, his wife, his neighborhood, and his old acquaintances all try to draw him back into his old lifestyle. He goes back to his old job as an illegal card dealer and to his old drug habit. He struggles to get out, but no one wants to help, they all want to keep the status quo. Only Molly wants to help him kick the habit. Nevertheless, she eventually leaves the neighborhood herself to make her life better. In the end, the status quo is changed, but it is a bittersweet conclusion not a happy one.

Sinatra's portrayal of drug addiction is very realistic and emotional. He puts himself into the character and gives a very believable performance. Not all of the other actors' styles mesh well; some characters seem a little outdated alongside of Sinatra's genuine portrayal of Frankie Machine. Kim Novak's Molly is superb though. Molly represents Frankie's salvation, his way out of the lifestyle. Novak manages to walk the line between Frankie's angel-on-earth and a real human with her own problems. Her scenes with Sinatra are touching and are the emotion of the movie.

Despite the good performances and the gripping portrayal of addiction, the movie seems a bit outdated now.  Some of the plot contrivances and characters do not feel real like the drug addiction does. None But the Brave

Sinatra produced, directed and co-starred in this movie, but it does not feel like a vanity project.

During WWII, a Japanese platoon is marooned on a remote island without any communication. They have no idea what is going with the war and no one knows they are there. They are building a wood boat to attempt to leave the island. A group of Marines' plane is shot down on the same island. Their means of communication is also broken; they are also stuck on the island. The Americans and Japanese quickly discover each other.

Sinatra plays Chief Pharmacist Mate Maloney, but he is not the main character. The main characters of the story are Lt. Kuroki, (Tatsuya Mihashi) the Japanese commander, and Captain Dennis Bourke (Clint Walker), the American commander. The Japanese and American subordinates are both young and eager for blood, but the commanders are wise enough not to rush into battle.

The Americans and Japanese do eventually attack each other and both sides incur casualties. But then the Americans are running out of water and the Japanese have a soldier in need of medical attention. Lt. Kuroki offers a trade, the use of the Japanese spring for the services of Malone. This initial pact then leads to a truce. Through contact with each other, the opposing forces realize that their enemies are as human as they are. Kuroki and Bourke especially begin to understand each other. They respect each other's honor in battle, duty to their country, and humanity.