"Pal Joey" stars Rita Hayworth, Frank Sinatra and Kim Novak in a sophisticated musical comedy. Sinatra plays Joey Evans, a cabaret singer who romances wealthy socialite Hayworth into financing his own nightclub, but then falls for voluptuous chorine Novak. "Pal Joey" took 17 years to get to the screen. Based on a series of stories written as letters by John OHara for The New Yorker, the letters were all signed "Your Pal Joey" by a mythical dancer. OHara later adapted the stories as a book for the Broadway musical which starred Gene Kelly. When Columbia bought the film rights, studio chief Harry Cohn wanted Kelly for the lead and Hayworth for the younger role of Linda. But Kelly was already contracted to MGM and the project was shelved. At one time, Billy Wilder was interested in doing the picture-with Marlon Brando and Mae West-but the studio passed. It finally took the combined talents of Hayworth, Sinatra and newcomer Kim Novak to bring "Pal Joey" to the screen. The gossip columns