Guys and Dolls
|
List Price: Our Price: $9.99 You Save: $4.99 (33%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $2.68 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Guys and Dolls
Movie Review: Goldwyn's Folly
Summary: 4 Stars
In the "Great Blunders in History" catagory, Samuel Goldwyn stands right up there with Neville Chamberlin and Wylie Coyote. Afterall Guys & Dolls has to rank among the top five great American musicals of all time. Only Showboat, Carousel and Gypsy deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Guys & Dolls. So the question begs to be asked, why so big a blunder by Goldwyn? Simple...He had one of the richest and most beautifully crafted musicals ever. Guys & Dolls seems positively born to play on the giant screen. I can't think of any Hollywood musical that looks as exciting and colorful...Great customes, great score and sets that positively jump off the screen at you. And the cast...Jean Simmons in the role of Mission Sgt. Sarah Brown, reveals a shrewd understanding of The American Musical tradition. She really delivers on the wonderful "If I Were A Bell". Her performance absolutely holds the entire show together. And Vivian Blaine is pecture-perfect in the role of Adeline the tawdry nightclub chorus girl, habitually stood-up by her man. Frank Sinatra is also in top form in the wonderful role of Nathan Detroit, gambler, womanizer and all around cad. Sinatra circa 1955 knew his way around a Hollywood musical. Afterall he was tutorted by the great Gene Kelley. Frank obviously learned his leasons well.
And then there's Brando aka "Mumbles". Herein lies the great blunder! What on earth was Samuel Goldwyn thinking? Of course in 1955 Marlon Brando was more than box-office bonanza. With a string of academy award worthy performances from Streetcar to Syanora to Waterfront, nobody was as bankable. But was he capable of delivering the goods as a song and dance man? You decide for yourself. I think the results say it all, and it ain't good for sure! Where I find his musical skills lacking most is in the duet "I'll Know When My Loves Comes Along", sung opposite a suddenly love-struck, Sarah Brown. Brando simply hasn't a clue as to how to deliver the song with any real conviction. There's no depth to the character beyond the obvious sexually of Sky. It's a shame considering the outstanding work here by Jean Simmons.
What makes the choice of Marlon Brando so catastrophic is the obvious mistake of not casting Sinatra as Sky Masterson. Yes, as I mentioned earlier Frank is perfect as Nathan Detroit. But he could have been beyond perfect in the lead role. Who better than the Chairman of the Board himself to coo up to Mission Sgt. Brown in that late night tropical paradise of Havana? Could anyone have been in Sinatra's league belting out "Luck Be A Lady Tonight"? Why the lyrics were positively written for him. If you care to, listen to a side-by-side comparison of Brando singing Luck and then Frank's version....There is no comparison! Well at least Frank got a chance to cast himself as Sky, when his own Reprise Records recorded Guys & Dolls a few years later.
So there you have it....Or there you have what could have been. Maybe Hollywood could rework the entire film using computer imaging wizardry. Perhaps they could find a way to insert Frank in the lead as Sky Masterson. Then we could recast Nathan Detriot with, let's say his old pally Dino? Or maybe Elvis...Or how about Bobby Darin?...Wait a minute!...I've got it! How about Broderick Crawford?...Or better yet, Carl Malden? No way it's got to be Leslie Neilsen!!!!! No wait a minute, how about.........?
Movie Review: Terrible transfer--no better than the previous release
Summary: 2 Stars
Having owned the previous non anamorphic DVD version, I was expecting this DVD to be much improved.
Guess what? There is practically NO difference in picture quality, despite the fact that this version is anamorphic.
The box says "Remastered in High Definition"...what a joke.
Stay away until the powers that be do this film correctly.
Movie Review: Guys and Dolls
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a true classic. Greta actors, wonderful script, some of the best Broadway music in one show. Another must see for the "musical" enthusiast.Movie Review: Guys & Dolls DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a classic musical! Sinatra and Brando are fantastic.
DVD was brand new, still in wrapping, and was shipped quickly.
Thank you!!
Movie Review: BEGUILING !
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the big, beautiful musical with the perfect casting. I didn't know that legendary Brando could do such wonderful performance in a movie such as this one--he really was a cinematic genius. Sinatra,equally talented, was not to be outstaged--he was hilarious! And the dolls--Simmons and Blaine--were brilliant acting partners; the rest of the crew were simply oustanding. Highly recommended!