Guys and Dolls (1955)

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.

Director:

Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Writers:

Jo Swerling (based upon the play: "Guys and Dolls" book by), Abe Burrows (based upon the play: "Guys and Dolls" book by)

Stars:

Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marlon Brando	...	Sky Masterson
Jean Simmons	...	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

Storyline

All the hot gamblers are in town, and they're all depending on Nathan Detroit to set up this week's incarnation of "The Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game in New York"; the only problem is, he needs $1000 to get the place. Throw in Sarah Brown, who's short on sinners at the mission she runs; Sky Masterson, who accepts Nathan's $1000 bet that he can't get Sarah Brown to go with him to Havana; Miss Adelaide, who wants Nathan to marry her; Police Lieutenant Brannigan, who always seems to appear at the wrong time; and the music/lyrics of Frank Loesser, and you've got quite a musical. Includes the songs: Fugue for Tinhorns, "Luck Be a Lady", "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat".

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Plot Keywords:

mission | gambler | new york city | based on stage musical | havana cuba | 

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Taglines:

SAMUEL GOLDWYN presents America's Own Musical!

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the songs not featured in the movie is Adelaide's and Sarah's duet "Marry the Man Today," which may have been considered to be too derogatory.

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Goofs

Just after the sewer crap game, Nathan tells Adelaide that green and white are the Whitney colors. C.V. Whitney colors are light blue with brown cap. John Hay Whitney raced the Greentree Stable's horses under flamingo and pink colors.

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Quotes

Sky Masterson: We have time to catch the last plane back to New York.
Sergeant Sarah Brown: People miss planes. It happens.
Sky Masterson: Yeah? It also happens that people win with loaded dice.
Sergeant Sarah Brown: I know what I'm doing.
Sky Masterson: Do you, kid?
[kisses her nose]
Sky Masterson: I don't.

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Connections

Version of Guys and Dolls

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Soundtracks

Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat
(1950) (uncredited)
Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser
Sung by Stubby Kaye and a chorus of gamblers at the Mission

User Reviews

I love it!

I love this movie. I never realized all of the songs I recognized and sang in school were from this movie. A fantastic mix of singing, dancing and acting. Rich characters that you love from beginning to end. Of course there are better singers than Brando but Brando did hold his own with every tune, and he was the best one for the part with his usual magnificent acting and likability.

Frank Sinatra is in top form and I always love watching the great and stunning actress Jean Simmons. You are in for a great time with this enriching musical. Fun for everyone. Will leave you falling in love with musicals all over again. A Must see!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 December 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

Guys and Dolls

Filming Locations:

Samuel Goldwyn Studios - 7200 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Samuel Goldwyn Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

150 min 152 min (with overture and exit music)

Sound Mix:

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

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor) (uncredited)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1