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 fiancˇe.
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.
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B
37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier.
PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
Since Jan 2011: Intel Quad Core Dell XPS 8100, i7 CPU 860 @ 2.80Ghz, 8Gb RAM, nVidia GeForce GTS 240, Windows 7
Since Nov 2005: Intel Pentium D 830 3.0Ghz, 1Gb RAM, 128Mb nVidia GeForce 6700XL, Windows XP
Since Aug 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.66Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb GeForce4 MX440 graphics, Windows XP
Since May 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.6Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb ATI Radeon 9600TX graphics, Windows XP
Since Jun 2002: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, 64Mb ATI Radeon 8500LE
Since May 2000: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, Voodoo 3 3000 AGP
