Joseph L. Mankiewicz was a Hollywood chameleon who ranged from thoughtful thrillers (The Quiet American), to acid character dramas (All About Eve) and Renta-ghosty romances (The Ghost And Mrs. Muir) with equal aplomb. Perhaps his most beloved film, though, remains his starry stab at the musical genre, 1955’s Guys And Dolls. It’s been spruced up and will be back on the big screen in time for all your Christmas sing-along needs*, and there's a new poster to help spread the word. Adapted from Frank Loesser’s Tony-winning musical, Guys And Dolls is the story of New York bad boy Nathan Detroit (Frank Sinatra), in deep with the gambling community and feeling the cops breathing down his handmade-suited neck. His fiancée (Vivian Blaine) also wants a ring on her finger. So what does he do? He makes a $1000 bet with Sky Masterson (Marlon Brando) that he can’t wow Jean Simmons’ straightlaced temperance enthusiast over dinner in Havana.
Plot, schmot, though. It’s all about the songs as Sinatra’s pipes get a thorough workout with a winning version of ‘Sue Me’ and Brando takes on ‘Luck Be A Lady’ and pulls off a creditable draw. Best of all, arguably, is Stubby Kaye’s effort.
Park Circus, the fine people who brought you spiffing re-release posters for classics like Night Of The Hunter and Some Like It Hot, are behind this one.Guys And Dolls is back in UK cinemas in its restored form on December 19.
*check your local cinema for sing-along regulations