“Guys and Dolls” starring Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra and Vivian Blaine / Z-View

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Guys and Dolls  (1955)

Director:  Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Screenplay: Joseph L. Mankiewicz; based on Guys and Dolls by Abe Burrows, Jo Swerling, Frank Loesser, Damon Runyon

Stars:  Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra, Vivian Blaine, Stubby Kaye, Johnny Silver, Robert Keith, B.S. Pullym, Regis Toomey and Sheldon Leonard.

Tagline: SAMUEL GOLDWYN presents America’s Own Musical!

The Plot…

Nathan Detroit is feeling the pressure.

Detroit is supposed to put together a huge crap game.  Word went out.  The town is gonna be full of high rollers and Nathan needs to deliver.  Complicating matters are three things.  One: New York City’s finest, Lieutenant Brannigan, is watching Nathan like a hawk.  First sign of an illegal game and he plans to bust Nathan and all involved.  Two: Nathan still needs a location.  Three: Nathan’s fiancée, Miss Adelaide, is pressuring him to marry her — their 14 year engagement is just too long.

Nathan finds the perfect location.  Problem is the location’s owner wants $1,000.00 for the property’s use.  Nathan doesn’t have the needed dough.

Then he gets an idea.  Sky Masterson is in town to gamble.  Sky will be on anything.  If Nathan can get Sky to bet $1,000 on a bet Sky’s sure to lose, Nathan will have the needed cash.

But what is a sure fire bet?

Nathan comes up with the perfect wager.  Sky is a known lady’s man and proud of his reputation.  Nathan gets Sky to say he could get any woman to go out on a date with him.  Nathan then wagers that if he can pick the woman, Sky would fail to get her to go with him to dinner in Havanna.  Sky agrees to the wager.

Nathan picks Sarah Brown.  Sarah happens to be very straight laced and a sister in the Save a Soul Mission.  Sarah runs the local chapter.

Sky wants to con Sarah.  Sarah wants to “save” Sky.   Nathan wants towin the bet so the big craps game is a go.  Miss Adelaide wants to get married.  Lieutenant Brannigan wants to arrest the whole lot of ’em.

There’s no way everyone is going to get what they want.  Wanna bet?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Guys and Dolls was nominated for four 1956 Academy Awards…

  • Nominee for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture – Jay Blackton, Cyril J. Mockridge
  • Nominee for Best Costume Design, Color – Irene Sharaff
  • Nominee for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color –  Oliver Smith, Joseph C. Wright, Howard Bristol
  • Nominee for Best Cinematography, Color – Harry Stradling Sr.

Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando had a strained relationship during filming.  Sinatra referred to Brando as “Mumbles”.  Sinatra coveted the role of Sky Masterson and was upset that Brando, got it — especially since Brando wasn’t a singer.

Brando’s singing in the film was put together from multiple takes.  Brando approached Sinatra early on in filming to ask for help with his singing scenes.  Sinatra refused.

Director Joseph L. Mankiewicz made the decision to not shot on location and instead make the sets have the feel of a stage play.  This is a big part of the film’s charm and makes it feel special.

I’m not a huge fan of musicals, but I love Guys and Dolls.

Guys and Dolls  (1955) rates 5 of 5 stars.