A Man Called Adam

Name: A Man Called Adam
Duration: 1 h 44 min

1hr 44m

3.5/5 (285)

1hr 44m
3.5/5 (285)

A famous jazz trumpeter finds himself unable to cope with the problems of everyday life. More Details »

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Movie Info & Cast

Director:

Leo Penn

Release Date:

Jan 1, 1966

Runtime:

1hr 44m

Synopsis

A famous jazz trumpeter finds himself unable to cope with the problems of everyday life.

Cast

Sammy Davis
Louis Armstrong
Ossie Davis

Letterboxd User Reviews

3.5

RATINGS 4 FANS

3.5

Feb 26, 2023

The legendary musician Sammy Davis Jr. tries out acting in a film about a talented individual whose life unravels gradually due in part to his own actions and the demons that haunt him. Along for the ride are other equally recognizable and famous figures like Frank Sinatra…

107 Likes

Rafael "Mister Movie" Jovine

Aug 6, 2024

A film about a tortured musician that tackles issues of racism, unhealthy power dynamics, toxic masculinity, & codependency. From the mid 1960s, it seems to me to be ahead of its time. Or just, have things not really changed? Directed by Leo Penn (Sean’s father). I loved…

71 Likes

Penny_S

Jun 3, 2026

I can’t believe Sean Penn’s dad, Leo Penn, was a director who got to make his directorial debut that starred Sammy Davis Jr., and Louis Armstrong of all people in this, and it’s much more sadder and darker film than I ever could’ve imagine. A Man Called Adam has music…

41 Likes

FilmShogun
May 31, 2020

I'm a big fan of Sammy Davis Jr.. I am endlessly fascinated by The Rat Pack, I love the Rat Pack movie Robin and the Seven Hoods, and I think Davis is so frustratingly underutilized in that film. He's a wonderful comic presence yet typically he's shoved to the side, but…

35 Likes

Zoë 🐛

The good: - The great performance from Sammy Davis, who has such screen presence and exudes cool. Cicely Tyson (RIP!) is good in this too. - The jazz soundtrack, with performances from Louis Armstrong and Mel Torme, who were both a treat to see. - The spotlight on…

31 Likes

AntoniusBlock7

Apr 23, 2022

Sammy Davis Jr is absolutely incredible here as a trumpeter living with regret and addiction, and fighting against both micro and major aggressions.

31 Likes

Robert Daniels
Apr 23, 2022

My personal best of TCM Festival. A jazz movie with a narrative as truthful as Benny Carter’s music. Cicely Tyson Louis Armstrong and Sammy Davis are all so real. I wish Sammy had more opportunities like this. A jazz lovers top 10

18 Likes

Allan Arkush

Jun 22, 2026

This is a tough film to review. I'm sure that I put it on my list after listening to a podcast about Sammy Davis Jr's work (probably by Karina Longworth). The film has a very strong thread of civil rights running through it and is made during a time when white Hollywood…

18 Likes

takeajance

Mar 13, 2025

Woah the ending scene were intense!! Sammy’s a great actor, it’s my first time watching him act. And Frank’s son looks like Frank Sinatra from Temu lmao he’s very handsome and a great musician too! This film is about a broken man.

17 Likes

Elwira Hasselblad