On G List of Movie Reviews
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Guys and Dolls (1955)
Rate:
2
Viewed:
10/14
10/14:
I was going to give Guys and Dolls a '1', but Marlon Brando's acting precludes it from happening.
The truth is: Marlon Brando is too good for everybody. I'm not sure what he was thinking when he agreed to do this tripe.
Although Frank Sinatra was an accomplished singer, it's a surprise his singing parts are so small as compared to Marlon Brando
and Jean Simmons. The truth is that Frank Sinatra lobbied hard for Brando's role, and when Brando won the role, it caused a lot
of acrimony between him and Frank. That's why they aren't seen together often.
Vivian Blaine's presence is ghastly awful and hard to bear. By the looks of advertisements on the wall, the splashy colorful
production feels like it was created in the studio's backyard. The ordinary plot is no better than what a fifth grader might
have done as it mindlessly repeats the same nonsense over and over, therefore stretching the film to 150 minutes.
More ridiculous is the concept of Sky Masterson taking Sarah Brown from New York City to Havana, Cuba, for a day because
of the $1,000 bet. The word "doll" is said so many times that it has become an unnecessary stereotype for women in general.
Even worse is the childish song which makes no sense. The break dancing stuff looks stupid.
All in all, Grease is better, more fun, and a hell of a lot shorter than Guys and Dolls.