Unlike many other Hollywood biopics, Monkey on My Back does a pretty good job of keeping its facts more-or-less straight; certainly, it's not like one of their "famous composer" films, in which the life story bears no resemblance to reality. But while it is to commended for its accuracy, Monkey is nevertheless too familiar a tale to have the dramatic power that it wants to have. Indeed, there are times when the screenplay is so unimaginative that it becomes downright plodding. Fortunately, there are also a number of "can't miss" sequences to lift the film out of these doldrums. Most praiseworthy of these would be the frightening, disturbing section of the film in which the leading character stays in a hospital fighting his painful addiction; in this sequence are real power and impact, thanks largely to Andre de Toth's fine direction and especially Cameron Mitchell's expert portrayal. Mitchell is excellent throughout, opting for a quieter, more nuanced performance rather than the "hit them over the head" approach that many might take. He's ably aided by Dianne Foster's sensitive work as his wife. Monkey is not the world beater it wants to be, but Mitchell scores a personal knock-out.