This film stars Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra. It was directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. It’s based on the broadway musical about likable gamblers, named Sky Masterson and Nathan Detroit. The musical is based on a Damon Runyon story.
Marlon Brando plays Sky Masterson and Frank Sinatra plays Nathan Detroit. Nathan Detroit has the distinction of having a popular floating crap game in New York. He has two immediate problems. One is he doesn’t have financing for the game. The second is Lt. Brannigan, who keeps after him about the game.
Nathan comes up with a solution to his financing problem. He gets Sky Masterson to agree to a bet. Sky Masterson has a habit of making unusual bets, and winning them. Nathan Detroit comes up with a bet he’s sure Masterson can’t win. He bets him that he cant get Sgt Sarah Brown, who’s played by Jean Simmons; to fly to Havana, Cuba, with him. Masterson takes the bet, and after much touch and go, gets Sgt. Simmons, to go. While there, he gets her drunk. While she is in this state, she starts a fight. This becomes more amusing when Brando gets involved. They get out of it, and Masterson and Sgt. Brown, go back to NYC.
Nathan Detroit has found a home for his crap game. It is the temporarily vacant Salvation Army headquarters. However, before the game can start, it’s raided by Lt. Brannigan. Fortunately, everyone gets out, and the game moves under the streets of NYC, with financing by Sky Masterson, who’s called off the bet, because he loves Sgt. Brown. After the game, Jean Simmons finds out about the bet. Sky explains that he loves her, and will give the money to her, and will bring all the lost souls/gamblers to her to repent. This leads to the ensemble number in the movie, Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat. After this a double wedding takes place. Nathan Detroit’s long suffering fiancé, Miss Adelaide finally weds Nathan, after a fourteen year engagement. Sky Masterson also gives up his bachelorhood, and weds Sgt. Brown. The movie ends with everyone happy except the bewildered Lt. Brannigan.
This film works well, even with Marlon Brando, a dramatic actor, who has very limited vocal range. His costar, Frank Sinatra is in his element. He was starring in these types of roles, for years, before he became a dramatic actor. Jean Simmons shows her versatility as an actress in her role as Sgt. Brown. Vivian Blaine is very good as Miss Adelaide. She plays well off Sinatra, particularly when asking him about marriage. She’s terrific performing the songs, particularly, Adelaide’s Lament. Joseph L. Mankiewicz does a fine job of bringing the musical to the big screen. He even keeps Brando’s character intact, despite the actor’s lack of singing talent.
It’s always a mystery with musicals, why Hollywood cast dramatic actors like Brando. It’s been done with succeeding musicals, due to the financial nature of the business. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. It does work well with Guys and Dolls.