FILM REVIEW: Guys and Dolls (1955 / USA)

A star-packed musical that falls short of Hollywood's Golden Age magic.

Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz / Screenplay: Joseph L. Mankiewicz / Producers: Samuel Goldwyn / Starring: Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra, Vivian Blaine / Cinematography: Harry Stradling / Editing: Daniel Mandell / Music: Frank Loesser / Production Companies: Samuel Goldwyn Productions / Runtime: 150 minutes

Guys and Dolls is a musical comedy centred on a craps game organizer who, needing funds for his next game, bets a high-rolling gambler that he can't persuade a straight-laced missionary woman to accompany him to Havana. Predictably, romance blossoms.

The film is noteworthy for featuring Marlon Brando in his sole musical role but he appears uncomfortable and stiff within this setting, while the more adept Frank Sinatra is disappointingly pushed into a nearly secondary position. The two actors famously clashed during filming and share minimal screen time together but Jean Simmons outshines both with her sincere portrayal of the missionary.

The movie's gangster theme influences a whimsical art design, providing a distinct atmosphere that diverges slightly from the typical grandeur of Hollywood's Golden Age productions.

Despite the budget and star power, Guys and Dolls doesn't quite measure up to the spectacle and standards of other musicals of its time. The score is underwhelming, with only a few memorable songs. The musical numbers often interrupt the flow of an already complicated narrative, which is further hampered by outdated views on relationships and gender roles.

Rating: ⭐⭐

Recommended related viewing: West Side Story (dir. Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise, 1962)

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