Damon Runyon's short story "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" became the unlikely subject of the biggest new Broadway musical of 1950. It was directed by the legendary George S. Kaufman, and contained memorable songs composed by Frank Loesser. It was inevitable that the play would become an MGM film, although it cost Samuel Goldwyn dearly. He paid a million dollars plus a percentage of the gross for the rights. Joseph L. Mankiewicz, who had won Oscars in consecutive years for All About Eve (1950) and A Letter to Three Wives (1949), was named as the director.

With its colorful sets and costumes, and exaggerated characters and choreography, Guys and Dolls lives up to the expectations of a big budget MGM musical from the 1950s. Nathan Detroit (Frank Sinatra) and Sky Masterson (Marlon Brando) are hardened New York City gamblers. Masterson opines that "all Dolls are alike", which leads to a bet with Detroit that he can win the love of Sarah (Jean Simmons), a beautiful but obsessively dedicated missionary.

Sinatra campaigned arduously and unsuccessfully for the Sky Masterson role. This is understandable, since Masterson is the romantic leading man, as well as the protagonist who keeps the story moving. Nathan Detroit is essentially an underground casino operator, who is always playing the middle against both ends. This applies to his personal life as well, since he has to appease his fiancee (Vivian Blaine), a persistent police lieutenant (Robert Keith), and a bevy of hardened gamblers. What they want is mutually incompatible, but Detroit still seeks a Las Vegas Line that will equally divide the bets.

It's no wonder, then, that Sinatra looks ill at ease. Not only does he have the second best role, but his character cannot make any decisions for himself. While Sinatra would prefer to play the confident, charismatic Masterson (who wouldn't?) he is actually better suited as Detroit. Brando had earned the right to play the lead with his performances in A Streetcar Named Desire, Julius Caesar, and On the Waterfront. Sinatra's film successes were generally in supporting roles.

The trouble with the casting is that Brando isn't much of a singer. He puts across his big number "Luck, Be a Lady" by sheer tenacity, with considerable help from noted choreographer Michael Kidd. The problem of pairing lovely Jean Simmons with a perfect soprano voice was solved by what would become a Hollywood tradition. She was dubbed, setting a precedent for The King and I, West Side Story, and My Fair Lady.

At 150 minutes, Guys and Dolls does seem overlong. While the legions of fans of the long-running musical would object to the removal of production numbers, the film could do without "Adelaise's Lament" and "Take Back Your Mink". Vivian Blaine's role in Guys and Dolls may be the highlight of her film career, but her clinging, pyschosomatic character can be reduced without impacting the major storylines.

Blaine landed the role because she was in the original cast of the Broadway production. Also recreating a stage role was Stubby Kaye, who agreeably plays Nicely-Nicely Johnson. Sinatra's voice may have elegant depth and irony, but is Kaye that steals the show, in "Fugue for Tin Horns" and "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat."

Guys and Dolls had its greatest success at the Golden Globes. In the Musical/Comedy category, it won Best Picture and Best Actress (Simmons). At the Academy Awards, it was nominated without a win for its sets, cinematography, costume design, and score. As fifties musicals go, Guys and Dolls had nothing to be ashamed of, but it was hardly in the same league as Singin' in the Rain (1952) and A Star is Born (1954).

Sinatra's other big film role in 1955 was in The Man With a Golden Arm, where he also played a gambler. Jean Simmons again portrayed an evangelist in a later film, Elmer Gantry (1960). (65/100)

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Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8