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Helen M Jerome reviews
MGM Home Entertainment
- Cert:
- Cat.no: MDR51341SE
- Running time: 143 minutes
- Year: 1955
- Pressing: 2006
- Region(s): 2, PAL
- Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
- Languages: English, French, German
- Subtitles: English, French, German, Dutch, Hindi, Arabic, Turkish
- Widescreen: 2.55:1
- 16:9-Enhanced: Yes
- Macrovision: Yes
- Disc Format: DVD 9
- Price: £12.99
- Extras: From Stage to Screen featurette; The Goldwyn Touch featurette; Guys and Dolls stories, including Brando Dance Lesson, Rehearsing Adelaide
Director:
- Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Producer:
- Samuel Goldwyn
Cast:
- Sky Masterson: Marlon Brando
Nathan Detroit: Frank Sinatra
Sgt Sarah Brown: Jean Simmons
Miss Adelaide: Vivian Blaine
Nicely Nicely Johnson: Stubby Kaye
I’ve never been to New York, but I’ve kind of always hoped that when I do it will look and feel like a Damon Runyon short story set to music.
Which is basically what Guys and Dolls is. An idealized and humorous picture of a crime-ridden city and its warm and well-rounded characters, and filled with wonderful Frank Loesser songs like the title tune, ‘Fugue for Tinhorns’, ‘Luck Be A Lady’ and the show-stopping ‘Sit Down, You’re Rocking The Boat’ as sung by Stubby Kaye as Nicely Nicely.
The central narrative concerns a gambling scene run by Nathan Detroit and involving all the high-rollers, including Sky Masterson. The complications are mainly romantic – with Nathan engaged to Miss Adelaide for 14 years – he’s allergic to marriage, it seems – and Sky entranced by Salvation Army sergeant Sarah Brown.
Controversially, though, when the musical was turned into a mainstream movie, not only did some of the songs have to be cut (well-documented in the extras here), but some of the casting also was called into question. Why would you put two non-singers in half of the main roles?
Star quality was one reason, for these particular actors, Jean Simmons and Marlon Brando were incredibly hot – and just as years earlier they’d used the “Garbo Speaks!” line for publicity, now they could triumphantly proclaim: “Brando Sings!”
And he does have a go, with his acting skills carrying him through and Simmons also throwing herself into the role. But they can’t hold a candle to Frank Sinatra, who would have killed for the Brando role, but had to settle for the Nathan Detroit part and, of course, Ol’ Blue Eyes sings it beautifully. And Vivian Blaine is perfect as the perpetual fiance.
Dance fans will adore the staged sequences, which recreate a Broadway atmosphere with their stylized sets, period colours and tight choreography. The extras will add to your enjoyment thanks to some first-hand anecdotes and production nuggets.
Nothing beats seeing this musical live on stage of course, and I’ll always treasure seeing Bob Hoskins, Julia McKenzie, Julie Covington and the late Ian Charleson in the National Theatre production. And more recently West End crowds have flocked to see Ewan McGregor play Sky Masterson.
But until you can see the musical up close – and even if you already have – this should keep you happy and will definitely have you humming the songs.
What’s playing at the Roxy? Well, I hope it’s this uplifting movie.
PICTURE
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EXTRAS
OVERALL 
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.