A Reel Retro Review: A MAN CALLED ADAM (1966)

With no new films to review for the foreseeable future, Reel Speak’s new feature, Reel Retro Reviews, will randomly review a classic film from the TCM broadcast schedule every Monday. Not just for the sake of filling time, but to hopefully introduce some classic, overlooked, and perhaps forgotten screen gems to those of us who may be unfamiliar or unawares of their existence. 

The late great Sammy Davis Jr. too often gets lumped in with Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack, as the man was a standout singer, comedian, and actor. One of the best examples of how well the man could act came in 1966, when he took on the role of a talented, yet troubled musician named Adam. 

Adam Johnson (Davis), is a self-tortured trumpet player who drowns himself in drink and constantly drives away the people who care for him, including his mentor Willie (Louis Armstrong), love-interest Claudia (Cicely Tyson), and his student Vincent (Frank Sinatra, Jr. ). 

A MAN CALLED ADAM does not have much by way of plot, and instead follows Adam in the late days of his life as he gets drunk, picks fights with friends and audience members, and goes out of his way to humiliate his manager Manny (Peter Lawford). There’s a repetition to the plot as he sobers up and promises to straighten up…only to fall again and rinse-repeat. Redundant, but it does function well. The presence of Claudia, who herself is a civil rights activist, gives him hope and something to work towards. 

Director Leo Penn keeps the focus on Adam at all times. It’s a film where the main character is an asshole from start to finish, and not much work is done to generate sympathy for him. The reasons for his asshole-ness are given by way of a blunt monologue where Adam just tells his story (wife and child killed) all in one information-dump. It’s heavy-handed, but at least it’s there. 

As a jazz cornetist, musical numbers take center-stage often and they are a thrill. The film’s trumpet performances are dubbed for Davis, but he sells the performance and it’s believable. The numbers include performances by musical legends Louis Armstrong and Mel Torme…and are shot and edited in a way that would make today’s music video directors a tad jealous. 

Sammy Davis Jr. is magnificent throughout the film. He sells the tortured soul well, and his rise and falls very convincing. Cicely Tyson matches him step-for-step. 

A MAN CALLED ADAM is a sad and tragic film and is a cautionary tale about how fame can’t fix everything. It’s redundant but it works and is worth a look for jazz lovers and for Sammy Davis Jr’s performance. 

BOTTOM LINE: See it 

*

Reel Facts: A MAN CALLED ADAM also stars Johnny Brown as a blind pianist. Brown would go on to roles in TV’s LAUGH-IN and GOOD TIMES. Brown’s future GOOD TIMES star Ja’Net DuBois also appears as one of Adam’s girlfriends. Sammy Davis’ performances were dubbed by American jazz trumpeter Nat Adderly.