GUYS AND DOLLS (1955)

Written & Directed By: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Based On The Book For Musical And Play By: Jo Swerling & Abe Burrows 
Based On A Story By: Damon Runyon 
Cinematography By: Harry Stradling Sr. 
Editor: Daniel Mandell 
Production Design By: Oliver Smith 


 Cast: Frank Sinatara, Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Vivain Blaine, Stubby Kaye, Robert Keith


All the hot gamblers are in town, and they're all depending on Nathan Detroit to set up this week's incarnation of "The Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game in New York"; the only problem is, he needs $1000 to get the place. Throw in Sarah Brown, who's short on sinners at the mission she runs; Sky Masterson, who accepts Nathan's $1000 bet that he can't get Sarah Brown to go with him to Havana; Miss Adelaide, who wants Nathan to marry her; Police Lieutenant Brannigan, who always seems to appear at the wrong time; and the music/lyrics of Frank Loesser, and you've got quite a musical. Includes the songs: Fugue for Tinhorns, "Luck Be a Lady", "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat"

I have a complicated history with this movie. Ever since I heard about t as a teenager, I have wanted to see it. I would read a yearly video guide to read synopsis and reviews of movies to mark off ones I had seen and to discover ones I had never heard of and wanted to see. I also sought to complete any directors or actors full film history. This was before the Internet.

Just the title of this movie and reading the cast enticed me though Marlon Brando one of the greatest actors singing and dancing worried me a little so over the years I always kept the title in the back of my mind. So when I worked in a video store and we were allowed to put on movies during work hours, this was one of the first titles I put on. I couldn't watch it totally As I was supposed to be working at the time, but the bits I saw were disappointing and the songs were not catchy. So I put it out of must see until years later when I saw a song from it performed on the Tonys and I finally decided to give it a try.

It's still not the masterpiece. I hoped it would be and i didn't really start enjoying it until after Marlon Brando takes a trip to Cuba, but it's a ok movie. The audio for each of Marlon Brando's musical numbers is constructed from multiple takes. As Frank Sinatra would always nickname him mumbles

It's strange to see frank Sinatra play second banana to someone Marlon Brando in the film surprisingly doesn't embarrass himself. He looks good in the movie and I feel here truly shows his range. I know he was a versatile dramatic actor and gave oddball performances, but here it looks like he is stretching and trying. not exactly confident since musicals are new for him, but he also looks like he is enjoying himself.

The songs "A Woman in Love", "Pet Me Poppa" and "Adelaide" were written for the screen version and were not in the original Broadway show. On Broadway, Nathan Detroit (Frank Sinatra) doesn't sing in the title song. That was added for the film to increase Sinatra's singing part

Jean Simmons looks so beautiful on screen And her character is so sweet that you can't help but fall for her.

Gene Kelly was sought for the role of Sky Masterson, but MGM refused to loan Kelly to Samuel Goldwyn.The decision to cast Marlon Brando was hotly contested, largely by Frank Sinatra , who wanted the part of Sky Masterson himself. Later in his career, he made Sky's big number "Luck Be A Lady" part of his stage act.

Marilyn Monroe wanted to play Adelaide, but director Joseph L. Mankiewicz didn't want to work with her again (she appeared briefly in All About Eve (1950)) and supposedly pretended he never got her phone messages. Animal lover Betty Grable was in talks to play Adelaide but when she canceled a meeting with producer Samuel Goldwyn to be with her sick dog, who had to be taken to the vet with a broken leg, a miffed Goldwyn would not reschedule and dropped her from consideration. Judy Holliday was also briefly considered for the role.

The film has such show stopping numbers such as Luck Be A Lady, Sit Down You’re Rockin’ The Boat

The opening of the film is a mixture of slapstick comedy, dancing prowess, pacing and brilliant camera movement.

The film is directed by Joseph Mankiewicz who directed such classics as SLEUTH and ALL ABOUT EVE brings a certain charm to the film. It has character. It doesn't live up to it's full capability, but is a success nonetheless since It is a musical that Started out on stage.

The film feels like a put on or fake i mean after all it is a production. The falseness feel distracts you from taking any of the story seriously and formats any true care or showcase of emotions for the characters and their problems. Which are never too deep as all of the material is light.

I also know why the gangsters on the Simpsons speak the way they do. Obviously inspired by this film And mob movies

The film is appropriate for all ages so the whole family can watch. It's worth a look, a fun time bit not on the list of classic musicals at least not in my book. Usually frank Sinatra in a musical can do no wrong

Grade: C+