A Man Called Adam

Opens September 10

Part of: NOIR CITY: Chicago 2026

1966 99 min DCP

Rated
ur
Leo Penn
Lester Pine, Tina Pine
Sammy Davis, Jr., Louis Armstrong, Ossie Davis

Sammy Davis, Jr. like you’ve never seen him before! Sammy plays Adam, the cornetist whose prodigious talent is dwarfed only by his penchant for self-destruction. He maps out a comeback with the help of a saxophonist turned Civil Rights activist and his granddaughter, but it doesn’t take long for the demons to come calling. One of the most unrelentingly bleak noir films of the 1960s, economically directed by Leo Penn (father of Oscar-winner Sean) and tailored to showcase musical luminaries George Rhodes and Louis Armstrong as they tear up real New York City nightclubs. Featuring memorably intense supporting turns by Davis’ Rat Pack cohort, Peter Lawford, and Rat Pack offspring, Frank Sinatra Jr.

1966
USA
English
99 min
Limited Availability

Music Box Theatre screens films of all genres and from every era of cinema, both new releases and repertory. These films may sometimes contain upsetting, outdated, or offensive material. While we aim to introduce many of our screenings, we do not always provide warnings about potentially triggering content within the films we screen. We encourage our patrons to research the film before they attend using trailers, reviews, or content information found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com.

Showtimes for A Man Called Adam