Guys and Dolls (1955)
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86% of critics liked it
(22 reviews) -
81% of users liked it
(30,188 ratings)
This 1955 film began life as two Runyon short stories, the most prominent of which was "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown." This material was fleshed out into a 2-act libretto by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling, then set to music by Frank Loesser and directed by George S. Kaufman. Opening late in… More This 1955 film began life as two Runyon short stories, the most prominent of which was "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown." This material was fleshed out into a 2-act libretto by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling, then set to music by Frank Loesser and directed by George S. Kaufman. Opening late in 1950, Guys and Dolls was one of Broadway's hottest tickets for several seasons. The plot involves a certain Broadway citizen by the name of Nathan Detroit (Frank Sinatra), who maintains the "Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game in New York." Seeking a location for his latest high-stakes game, Nathan has an opportunity to rent out the Biltmore Garage, but he needs $1000 to do so. He decides to extract the money from high-rolling Sky Masterson (Marlon Brando), known for his willingness to bet on anything. Nathan wagers that Sky will not be able to talk the virginal Salvation Army lass Sarah Brown (Jean Simmons) into going on a date with him. While Sky goes to work on Sarah, Nathan endeavors to fend off his girlfriend Miss Adelaide (Vivian Blaine, repeating her Broadway role), who has developed a psychosomatic cold because of her frustrating 14-year engagement to the slippery Mr. Detroit. Thanks to some fast finagling, Sky is able to take Sarah on that date, flying to Havana for this purpose. By the time they've returned to New York, Sky and Sarah are in love, but their ardor cools off abruptly when Nathan, unable to secure the Biltmore garage, attempts to use Sarah's mission as the site of his crap game. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Joseph L. Mankiewicz
- Written By
- Joseph L. Mankiewicz
- Genres
- Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1955 Wide
- On DVD
- May 15, 2001
Critic Reviews
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Conceivably the best picture Sam Goldwyn ever produced.
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Variety Staff, Variety
Guys and Dolls is a bangup filmusical in the topdrawer Goldwyn manner.
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Tom Milne, Time Out
A musical fairly glittering with intelligence and invention.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A great play but just a good movie.
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Though assigned to the wrong director (Mankiewicz), the musical movie still maintains some charm, largely due to the performances of Sinatra and Brando
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Marlon Brando
as Sky Masterson
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Jean Simmons
as Sarah Brown
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Frank Sinatra
as Nathan Detroit
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Vivian Blaine
as Miss Adelaide
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Robert Keith
as Lt. Brannigan
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Stubby Kaye
as Nicely-Nicely Johnson
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B.S. Pully
as Big Jule
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Johnny Silver
as Benny Southstreet
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Sheldon Leonard
as Harry the Horse
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Danny Dayton
as Rusty Charlie
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George E. Stone
as Society Max
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Regis Toomey
as Arvide Abernathy
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Kathryn Givney
as General Cartwright
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Veda Ann Borg
as Laverne
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Mary Alan Hokanson
as Agatha
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Joe McTurk
as Angie the Ox
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Kay E. Kuter
as Calvin
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Stapleton Kent
as Mission Member
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John Indrisano
as Liverlips Louis
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Earl Hodgins
as Pitchman
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Harry Tyler
as Max Waiter at Mindy's
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Franklin Farnum
as Spectator at Song and Dance Number
- The Goldwyn Girls
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Sam Harris
as Spectator at Song and Dance Number
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Julian Rivero
as Cuban Waiter
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Larri Thomas
as Goldwyn Girl
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Harry Wilson
as Man in Barber Shop
- Lynn Bernay
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Frank Richards
as Man with Packages
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Matt Murphy
as The Champ