Guys and Dolls (1955/I)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Writers:

Jo Swerling (book) and
Abe Burrows (book) ...
(more)

Release Date:

16 January 1956 (Brazil)

Genre:

Musical | Comedy | Romance | Crime

Plot:

In New York, a gambler is challenged to take a cold female missionary to Havana, but they fall for each other, and the bet has a hidden motive to finance a crap game.

Plot Keywords:

Bet | Gambler | Craps | Mission | Song

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Marlon Brando	...	Sky Masterson
Jean Simmons	...	Sergeant Sarah Brown
Frank Sinatra	...	Nathan Detroit
Vivian Blaine	...	Miss Adelaide
Robert Keith	...	Lt. Brannigan
Stubby Kaye	...	Nicely-Nicely Johnson
B.S. Pully	...	Big Jule
Johnny Silver	...	Benny Southstreet
Sheldon Leonard	...	Harry the Horse
Danny Dayton	...	Rusty Charlie (as Dan Dayton)
George E. Stone	...	Society Max
Regis Toomey	...	Arvide Abernathy
Kathryn Givney	...	General Cartwright
Veda Ann Borg	...	Laverne
Mary Alan Hokanson	...	Agatha
Joe McTurk	...	Angie the Ox
Kay E. Kuter	...	Calvin (as Kay Kuter)
Stapleton Kent	...	Mission Member
Renee Renor	...	Cuban Singer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Barbara Brent	...	Goldwyn Girl (as The Goldwyn Girls)
Jann Darlyn	...	Goldwyn Girl (as The Goldwyn Girls)
Madelyn Darrow	...	Goldwyn Girl (as The Goldwyn Girls)
Pat Sheehan	...	Goldwyn Girl (as The Goldwyn Girls)
Larri Thomas	...	Goldwyn Girl (as The Goldwyn Girls)
Sandra Warner	...	Twin Goldwyn Girl (as The Goldwyn Girls)
Sonia Warner	...	Twin Goldwyn Girl (as The Goldwyn Girls)
Jack Chefe	...	Waiter at Mindy's (uncredited)
Sayre Dearing	...	Tough (uncredited)
Larry Duran	...	(uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum	...	Spectator at 'Pet Me Poppa' Number (uncredited)
Adolph Faylauer	...	Tourist with Camera (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Street Extra (uncredited)
Rubén de Fuentes	...	Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
Tony Galento	...	(uncredited)
Joe Gray	...	(uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Spectator at 'Pet Me Poppa' Number (uncredited)
Earle Hodgins	...	Pitchman (uncredited)
John Indrisano	...	Liverlips Louie (uncredited)
Donald Kerr	...	Barber (uncredited)
June Kirby	...	Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
Harold Miller	...	Extra at Mindy's (uncredited)
Matt Murphy	...	The Champ (uncredited)
Jerry Orbach	...	Barbershop customer (uncredited)
Jack Perry	...	Gambler (uncredited)
Joe Ploski	...	Barber (uncredited)
Frank Richards	...	Man with Packages (uncredited)
Julian Rivero	...	Cuban Waiter (uncredited)
Tony Rosa	...	Man walking poodle (uncredited)
Jeffrey Sayre	...	Diner at Mindy's (uncredited)
Brick Sullivan	...	Truck Driver on Street (uncredited)
Harry Tyler	...	Max, waiter at Mindy's (uncredited)
Harry Wilson	...	Singing Man in Barber Shop (uncredited)

Directed by
Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Writing credits
Jo Swerling		(book for musical play "Guys and Dolls") and
Abe Burrows		(book for musical play "Guys and Dolls")
Damon Runyon		(story "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown")
Joseph L. Mankiewicz		(written by)
Ben Hecht		uncredited

Produced by
Samuel Goldwyn	....	producer

Cinematography by
Harry Stradling Sr.		(as Harry Stradling)

Film Editing by
Daniel Mandell

Production Design by
Oliver Smith

Art Direction by
Joseph C. Wright		(as Joseph Wright)

Set Decoration by
Howard Bristol

Costume Design by
Irene Sharaff

Makeup Department
Annabell	....	hair stylist
Ben Lane	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Arthur S. Black Jr.	....	assistant director
Gary Nelson	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Roger Heman Sr.	....	sound (as Roger Heman)
Fred Lau	....	sound
Vinton Vernon	....	sound
Larry Gannon	....	sound (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Warren Newcombe	....	special photographic effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Gjon Mili	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Alvord Eiseman	....	color consultant (as Alvord L. Eiseman)

Music Department
Jay Blackton	....	conductor
Jay Blackton	....	music supervisor
Alexander Courage	....	orchestrator
Michael Kidd	....	dances and musical numbers staged by
Skip Martin	....	orchestrator
Cyril J. Mockridge	....	music adaptor: background music
Nelson Riddle	....	orchestrator
Albert Sendrey	....	orchestrator (as Al Sendrey)

Other crew
Cy Feuer	....	producer: stage play
Samuel Goldwyn	....	presenter
Ernest H. Martin	....	producer: stage play

Production Companies

• Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1955) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1967) (USA) (TV) (original airing) (pan/scan)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (laserdisc)
• Hallmark Video (video)
• Image Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Blanches colombes et vilains messieurs (France) [fr]
Bulli e pupe (Italy) [it]
Eles e Elas (Portugal) [pt]
Ellos y ellas (Spain) [es]
Enkeleitä Broadwaylla (Finland) [fi]
Faceci i laleczki (Poland) [pl]
Guys and Dolls (Denmark) [da]
Manges kai koukles (Greece) [el]
Pysar och sländor (Sweden) [sv]
Schwere Jungen, leichte Mädchen (Austria) [de]
Schwere Jungs - leichte Mädchen (West Germany) [de]

Runtime:

150 min | 152 min (with overture and exit music)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Western Electric Sound System) (magnetic prints) | Mono (optical prints)

Certification:

Brazil:Livre | West Germany:12 | Australia:G | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #17617) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Australia:PG (cable rating)

Filming Locations:

Samuel Goldwyn/Warner Hollywood Studios - 1041 N. Formosa Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

Trivia:

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.

Goofs:

Continuity: Sky Masterson's handwriting on the back of the Bible verse card changes between shots.

Quotes:

Sergeant Sarah Brown: Apparently you're a successful gambler.
Sky Masterson: Is it wrong to gamble, or only to lose? I'd better come back for help when I'm broke.
Sergeant Sarah Brown: Please don't misunderstand. It's just so unusual for a successful sinner to be unhappy about sin.
Sky Masterson: Besides, my unhappiness came up very suddenly. Maybe it'll go away again.
Arvide Abernathy: We can keep you unhappy, son. Give us a chance.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Heart & Soul: The Life and Music of Frank Loesser (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Overture

Simply a great screen adaptation of a stage classic!

In 1954 Marlon Brando was THE hot actor after his performances in Streetcar Named Desire and On The Waterfront. Frank Sinatra had yet to re-invent himself on the silver screen. But Sinatra's portrayal as the erstwhile Nathan Detroit, helped re-establish Sinatra with his fans.

It is a great screen version of a great play and the choices of leads and support players are terrific. Imagine a movie where Brando sings? This was his one and only singing role as he portrayed Sky Masterson. In addition the female leads, Jean Simmons and Vivian Blaine(replaying her stage role as Nathan's long suffering girlfriend Adelade), put in superlative efforts. Special mention goes to the great Stubby Kaye(as Nicely Nicely), and with all due respect to Eric Clapton, no one's version of Rockin' The Boat even comes close to Stubby's. Sheldon Leonard, who would go on to fame as TV producer of such shows as The Danny Thomas Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show does "Harry The Horse" wonders, B.S.Pulley is excellent as the harsh mannered and rough talking "Big Julie", and even Regis Toomey offers his excellence as "Brother Arvide".

It is one of the fun musicals to see, good comedy, and you get Sinatra and Brando. Soooooo "Luck Be A Lady Tonight" and brother..."it's your dice"