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 thought after agreeing 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's and Jean Simmons'. The truth is that Frank Sinatra lobbied hard for Brando's role,
and when the latter won the role, it caused a lot of acrimony between them. 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.