Guys and Dolls (1955)

Goldwyn's Folly

In the "Great Blunders in History" category, Samuel Goldwyn stands right up there with Neville Chamberlin and Wylie Coyote. Afterall Guys & Dolls has to rank among the top five great American musicals of all time. Only Showboat, Carousel and Gypsy deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Guys & Dolls. So the question begs to be asked, why so big a blunder by Goldwyn? Simple...He had one of the richest and most beautifully crafted musicals ever. Guys & Dolls seems positively born to play on the giant screen. I can't think of any Hollywood musical that looks as exciting and colorful...Great customes, great score by Frank Loesser and sets that positively jump off the screen at you. And the cast...Jean Simmons in the role of Mission Sgt. Sarah Brown, reveals a shrewd understanding of The American Musical tradition. She really delivers on the wonderful "If I Were A Bell". Her performance absolutely holds the entire show together. And Vivian Blaine is picture-perfect in the role of Adeline the tawdry nightclub chorus girl, habitually stood-up by her man. Frank Sinatra is also in top form in the wonderful role of Nathan Detroit, gambler, womanizer and all around cad. Sinatra circa 1955 knew his way around a Hollywood musical. Afterall he was tutorted by the great Gene Kelley and with steller performances in On The Town, Anchors Away and Take Me Out To The Ballgame, Frank obviously learned his leasons well.

And then there's Brando aka "Mumbles". Herein lies the great blunder! What on earth was Samuel Goldwyn thinking? Of course in 1955 Marlon Brando was more than box-office bonanza. With a string of academy award worthy performances from Streetcar to Syanora to Waterfront, nobody was as bankable. But was he capable of delivering the goods as a song and dance man? You decide for yourself. I think the results say it all, and it ain't good that's for sure! Where I find his musical skills lacking most is in the duet "I'll Know When My Loves Comes Along". Sung opposite a suddenly love-struck Sarah Brown, Brando simply hasn't a clue as to how to deliver the song with any real conviction. There's no depth to the character beyond the sexually of Sky and it's a shame considering the outstanding work of Jean Simmons.

What makes the choice of Marlon Brando so catastrophic is the obvious mistake of not casting Sinatra as Sky Masterson. Yes, as I mentioned earlier Frank is perfect as Nathan Detroit. But he could have been beyond perfect in the lead role. Who better than the Chairman of the Board himself to coo up to Mission Sgt. Brown in that late night tropical paradise of Havana? Could anyone have been in Sinatra's league belting out "Luck Be A Lady Tonight"? Why the lyrics were positively written for him. If you care to, listen to a side-by-side comparison of Brando singing Luck and then hear Frank's version....There is no comparison! Well at least Frank got a chance to cast himself as Sky, when his own Reprise Records recorded Guys & Dolls a few years later.

So there you have it....Or there you have what could have been. Maybe Hollywood might rework the entire film using computer imaging wizardry. Perhaps they could find a way to insert Frank in the lead as Sky Masterson. Then we could recast Nathan Detriot with, let's say his old pally Dino? Or maybe Elvis...Or how about Bobby Darin?...Wait a minute!...I've got it! How about Broderick Crawford?...Or better yet, Carl Malden? No way it's got to be Leslie Neilsen!!!!! No wait a minute, how about.........?

October 23, 2008

Terrible transfer--no better than the previous release

Having owned the previous non anamorphic DVD version, I was expecting this DVD to be much improved.

Guess what? There is practically NO difference in picture quality, despite the fact that this version is anamorphic.

The box says "Remastered in High Definition"...what a joke.

Stay away until the powers that be do this film correctly. July 25, 2008

Guys and Dolls

This is a true classic. Greta actors, wonderful script, some of the best Broadway music in one show. Another must see for the "musical" enthusiast. July 11, 2008

Guys & Dolls DVD

This is a classic musical! Sinatra and Brando are fantastic.
DVD was brand new, still in wrapping, and was shipped quickly.
Thank you!! July 3, 2008

BEGUILING !

This is the big, beautiful musical with the perfect casting. I didn't know that legendary Brando could do such wonderful performance in a movie such as this one--he really was a cinematic genius. Sinatra,equally talented, was not to be outstaged--he was hilarious! And the dolls--Simmons and Blaine--were brilliant acting partners; the rest of the crew were simply oustanding. Highly recommended!
May 12, 2008

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