1955 Movie
Dir. Joseph L. Mankiewicz · United States of America · English
A slick, well-made musical adaptation that might not be perfect, but remains a classic nonetheless
There are plenty of great Hollywood movie musicals from the 1950s that are still held in high regard today. Guys and Dolls is one such musical, though perhaps it hasn’t gotten the iconic status that other MGM musicals garnered due to its uneven casting. Nevertheless, the film version of the popular stage musical adapts it well, adding incredible synchronization, excellent choreography, and a charismatic cast (as well as their behind-the-scenes drama) to a familiar, but well-made plotline of guys challenged to keep their word, whether that be in terms of gambling or of love. Guys and Dolls might not have the iconic status due to certain song performances, but it nonetheless still remains a classic for a reason– it’s just a good film.
In New York, a gambler is challenged to take a cold female missionary to Havana, but they fall for each other, and the bet has a hidden motive to finance a crap game.
"Brando and Sinatra are on top form, but it's Simmons who steals the show."
— Adam Woodward
"Guys and Dolls is a bangup filmusical in the topdrawer Goldwyn manner."
— Variety Staff
Needing $1,000 to pay a garage owner to host his big craps game, gambler Nathan Detroit bets his colleague Sky Masterson that he cannot take Sergeant Sarah Brown, a sister missionary, to a dinner date in Havana.
Okay, if we were to compare voices, of course Frank Sinatra is much better than Marlon Brando, so it’s no wonder that their dynamic in real life got strained. However… I can’t deny that Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons had really good chemistry, and I have to say that Brando has the charisma for Sky Masterson.
It’s good. But if MGM allowed Gene Kelly to take on the role of Sky Masterson… It might have been something else.
Other
2 noms
Isabella Endrinal is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. She's now free from the corporate night shift. Previous articles have been published in outlets such as NANG Magazine. She's currently catching up on some classic films… if she isn't coping with the fact that the Haikyu anime will end soon.
Comments