Harry Cluff salutes the 70th anniversary of Guys and Dolls – and its sparring stars
He’s the most overrated actor in the world,’ Frank Sinatra said about Marlon Brando just before co-starring with the Oscar-winning actor in Guys and Dolls. Brando retorted, ‘Frank is the sort of guy who, when he gets up in the morning, the Devil says, “Oh no, he’s up!”’ The two superstars were at loggerheads throughout the filming of the musical, 70 years ago, in November 1955. The musical – based on two short stories by Damon Runyon – had music and lyrics by Frank Loesser; the book was written by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. A hit on Broadway in 1950, it was snapped up by Samuel Goldwyn – who paid a record-breaking million dollars for the film rights. Runyon’s world of New York card-sharps, quirkily named crooks and lovable gangsters was peppered with show-stoppers: ‘Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat’, ‘Fugue for Tinhorns’, ‘Sue Me’ and the eponymous ‘Guys...
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