Guys And Dolls is without a doubt one of my favourite musicals ever made! The film was released back in 1955, directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, and it’s certainly stood the test of time.
The general plot is fairly simple; gambler Nathan Detroit who runs the 'oldest established permanent ... Read review
Based on the Broadway show from the Damon Runyon short story and filled to the brim with ... more
Frank Loesser tunes such as "Luck Be a Lady" and "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat " this outrageously comic film featuring Marlon Brando's bold musical debut is ...
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This CinemaScope treatment of Frank Loesser's hit Broadway musicalGuys and Dollsis a ... more
deeply rewarding visual and musical experience. Frank Sinatra turns in one of his best screen performances running a close second to Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons, lo...
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Slick upbeat and funny these stories inspired the popular musical and film Guys and ... more
Dolls. 'Of all the high players this country ever sees there is no doubt but that the guy they call the Sky is the highest. He will bet all he has and nobody can bet any more than this'.
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Music / Performing Arts, Comedy - Director: Trevor Nunn, Geoffrey Posner - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, Parental Guidance - Starring: Duncan Preston, Celia Imrie, Julie Walters, Victoria Wood, Jim Broadbent
Advantages: Excellent cast, catchy songs, entertaining storyline Disadvantages: No special features on the DVD
Guys And Dolls is without a doubt one of my favourite musicals ever made! The film was released back in 1955, directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, and it’s certainly stood the test of time.
The general plot is fairly simple; gambler Nathan Detroit who runs the 'oldest established permanent floating crap game in New York' needs $1000 to bribe Joey Biltmore in order to obtain a location to run the floating crap game. In order to obtain ... ...Nicely Johnson and Big Jule, Guys And Dolls is a classic. The film also has an all-star cast with Frank Sinatra starring as gambler Nathan Detroit, Marlon Brando playing Sky Masterson, Vivian Blaine playing the talented Miss Adelaide and Jean Simmons playing Sargeant Sarah Brown. With Frank Sinatra as part of the cast, obviously you'd expect fantastic vocals, however the well-written lyrics and exceptional choreography boosts Guys And Dolls into ... more
Guys And Dolls is without a doubt one of my favourite musicals ever made! The film was released back in 1955, directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, and it’s certainly stood the test of time.
The general plot is fairly simple; gambler Nathan Detroit who runs the 'oldest established permanent floating crap game in New York' needs $1000 to bribe Joey Biltmore in order to obtain a location to run the floating crap game. In order to obtain the money, Nathan bets high-flying gambler Sky Masterson (after a failed bet involving cheesecake and strudel!) that he cannot take a specific 'doll' to Havana. Sky agrees to the bet, and Nathan names the woman - a well-meaning 'missionary doll' who spends her days attempting to convert the sinning gamblers of New York - by the name of Sarah Brown. An additional complication to the storyline is Nathan's fiancee Miss Adelaide, a singer at the Hot Box nightclub. They've been engaged for 14 years, and Adelaide (from whom Nathan is concealing that he's still running the floating crap game from) is getting restless...
Without ruining the ending for anyone, this is one of the most entertaining and delightful musicals ever made. With a witty script, funny storyline and hilarious supporting characters such as Colonel Brannigan, Nicely Nicely Johnson and Big Jule, Guys And Dolls is a classic. The film also has an all-star cast with Frank Sinatra starring as gambler Nathan Detroit, Marlon Brando playing Sky Masterson, Vivian Blaine playing the talented Miss Adelaide and Jean Simmons playing Sargeant Sarah Brown. With Frank Sinatra as part of the cast, obviously you'd expect fantastic vocals, however the well-written lyrics and exceptional choreography boosts Guys And Dolls into a class of its own.
The songs from this musical are utterly unforgetable; from the catchy number Guys And Dolls, argumentative Sue Me, heartfelt Adelaide's Lament, the somewhat bacardi-fuelled If I Were A Bell, the classic Luck Be A Lady, and of course my personal favourite song, Sit Down You're Rockin' The Boat!
The DVD itself unfortunately lacks any real special features. It has subtitles in English, German, Italian, French, Spanish and Dutch, and it also has the chapter selection feature common to most DVDs. It also comes only in widescreen, like many films dating from the fifties. However aside from the lack of special features, the DVD is quite good - considering it's a relatively old film, the sound quality and picture are excellent.
In short, this film won't change your life, it's not deep and meaningful and it probably won't make you think overly! However it is a fantastically entertaining story about men, women and love (with gamblers, missionary workers, dancers, catchy songs and bacardi thrown in!) and is a delightful way to spend a rainy afternoon. I've watched this film umpteen times, and I think it's an utter classic - I highly recommend you watch it, and I dare you not to tap your toes along to Sit Down You're Rockin' The Boat!!!
Advantages: Has you singing along merrily Disadvantages: Extras a let down
lookds rocky till he promises marriage - will this happen? watch and see.
The thing that makes the film, as in all musicals, is the soundtrack.
Guys and Dolls has a nice range of songs, some very upbeat, some amusing (I especially love the song Adelaide sings about her psychosomatic cold), and some quite touching.
Many of these songs are memorable. Loads of people know a little of 'Sit Down, you're rocking the boat', even if they're not sure which film it's from. Likewise, 'Lady Luck'.
In general, this is a really enjoyable film. It's predicatable, but I find that to be true of all musicals, and it's not really the storyline that's essential. I love the songs, and this is one of the most played of my DVDs.
My DVD is the Special Collectr's Edition, which means that I get the extras that the original DVD misses. I'm not really blown away by ...
Advantages: Great story and acting, catchy songs with good vocals, family film Disadvantages: None from me
to the storyline.
The film was quite clearly shot on sets and this was apparent from the opening scene but as this film is from back in 1952 then this can be forgiven. I think a lot of time and effort was put into the making of the sets and costumes and this would have looked great way back when this was released. Despite never having seen this film I was surprised at how many of the song I knew and enjoyed quietly singing along to them. I found they all fitted very well into the film and none of them seemed out of place and fortunately all of the actors who sang had a good vocal ability which made for a better listening experience.
The DVD which we have does have some bonus features which include:-
Interviews- Brando Dance Lessons, Goldwyn?s Career, On The Set, Rehearsing Adelaide
Musical Performances Featurettes
From Stage ...
Based on the Broadway show from the Damon Runyon short story and filled to the brim with Frank Loesser tunes such as "Luck Be a Lady" and "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat," this outrageously comic film featuring Marlon Brando's bold musical debut is a colorful tale about gamblers, a feisty Salvation Army lass, and a dance-hall girl with a pining heart. Veteran gambler Sky Masterson (Brando) takes a bet from Nathan Detroit (Frank Sinatra) that he can win the affection of a "soldier" (Jean Simmons) in the Salvation Army, setting himself up to lose both his money and his heart. Romance is the last thing the gambler and the missionary expect, and they fight against their attraction for all they're worth in glowing singing and dancing numbers. Love proves to be contagious as spicy dancer Miss Adelaide, in a role re-created for the screen from Broadway by showstopper Vivian Blaine, is determined to get her fiance, Nathan, to the altar one way or another. Stubby Kaye and B.S. Pully also reprise their stage roles in this glorious Cinemascope film that earned four Academy Award nominations. GUYS AND DOLLS consistently ranks among the most popular film musicals of all time.
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