Guys and Dolls, Deluxe Edition, on DVD
It's no Rogers and Hammerstein masterpiece, but Joseph L. Mankiewicz'
film version of Frank Loesser's musical (based on Damon Runyon's work) is
well worth seeing if only because of Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Jean Simmons
and Vivian Blaine.
And there's more to recommend it, too, despite our lukewarm reaction to the
production as a musical.
Set in New York, in the world of big and small time gamblers, Guys and
Dolls stars the always great Brando as the high-rolling Sky Masterson, with
Jean Simmons outstanding as "Salvation
Army-compatible" missionary Sarah Brown – a straitlaced lady who
becomes Brando's love interest, much to the surprise of them both.
It seems like pretty strange casting, especially since Brando and Simmons
both have tgo sing here (and they do it surprisingly well, though we wish the
showpiece "Luck
Be A Lady" could
have been given to Sinatra instead). Sinatra, in a co-starring role, plays
Nathan Detroit (who's famous for running "the oldest established permanent
floating crap game in New York"). He's mostly wasted here, with his songs
being more ensemble and/or novelty-type tunes when he should have had Brando'smore
substantive songs. Blaine
reprises her Broadway role as Detroit's love interest, a showgirl to whom he's
been engaged for 14 years and who wants him to give up his gambling ways and
become a serious citizen.
The dialogue seems stilted, mostly by a lack of contractions (would these supposed "blue
collar" types really say phrases like "you will" rather than "you'll"?),
which is kind of strange, though apparently it's right out of Runyon's writing
so that may explain it if not justify it.
The plot concerns Detroit's attempt to set up a lucrative crap game despite
the pressure from the NYPD, as well as a side bet he makes with Masterson that
involves the seduction of Brown. All comes together in the end, of course,
but there are plenty of ups and downs – and singing and dancing – along
the way.
Special mention should be made of Stubby Kaye, who young people may only remember
as Marvin Acme from "Who Framed Roger Rabbit." He
just about steals the show in his scenes as Nicely Nicely, one of Detroit's
people of hench, and with his great solo "Sit Down, You're Rocking the
Boat."
Even though the film isn't any longer than many musicals, it seems long – perhaps
because it just doesn't have the "spark" of some other musicals such
as My Fair Lady, Oklahoma!, West
Side Story and The
Sound of Music.
If you only know Marlon Brando from movies like "On
the Waterfront," "The
Godfather" or "Apocalypse
Now," you're in for a surprise
here. It's too bad that Sinatra is basically wasted, though we suppose
Brando may have been more believable as a romantic lead back then than the
skinny songster.
MGM Home Entertainment has done a nice job with the DVD. It features
a very good anamorphic widescreen transfer (16x9 TV compatible), with a sharp,
bright and colorful picture. Audio is Dolby Digital 5.1, though there isn't
a lot of surround, and the overall quality is fine for a film this old.
And the extras are great. The best is a 72 page collectible scrapbook that
brings together stuff like old advertising and photos. You also get two
good documentaries ("Guys and Dolls: From Stage to Screen" and "Guys
and Dolls: The Goldwyn Touch").
We're confirmed fans of musicals, yet had never seen Guys and Dolls before
and were quite surprised by it. While, as mentioned, this is not up to the
standards of some of the great Hollywood versions of Broadway musicals (neither
is Paint Your Wagon, yet it's still enjoyable),
it's well worth a look and this edition is very "lookable" indeed
Guys and Dolls, Deluxe Edition, from MGM Home Entertainment
149 min. anamorphic widescreen (2.55:1, 16x9 TV compatible), Dolby Digital
5.1
Starring Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra, Vivian Blaine
Produced by Samuel Goldwyn
Written for the screen and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
