In the hands of the ever - ruminative Pacino, the exploration of Danny's morality and conscience;
addiction, abandonment, manipulation of and by the industry,
would have rooted his moral transition from self - obsessed, pitying crooner into worldly-wise family man, all the more tangible
had his character been given the multi-textured attention Pacino is renowned for but is instead carpeted over with sugared -
coated fluff.