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 and Dolls’.
Goldwyn’s executive decision to cast actors with little musical experience – such as Brando and Jean Simmons – raised the odd eyebrow.
Critics attacked Brando’s singing skills – or lack of them – as Sky Masterson. Italian-American Sinatra as Nathan Detroit, a Jewish New Yorker, also tested the credulity of the audience. Still, the film was a big commercial hit.
Sinatra preferred to do just a few takes, while Brando needed dozens to get it right. Both were known for their tempers and hissy fits on set, and their alpha-male behaviour. Years afterwards, the film’s director, Joseph L Mankiewicz, said he spent as much time managing the two divas as he did directing the picture.
Sinatra was bitter at being rejected for the leading romantic role of Sky Masterson in favour of Brando. He had to settle for the secondary, comical role of Nathan Detroit. Still, given Sinatra’s exceptional voice and screen presence, Loesser wrote an extra song for Frank, that earworm of a tune ‘Adelaide’.
Brando was genial to Sinatra at the start of filming. Nervous about singing, he graciously asked Frank for some technical advice.
Brando said that, as he became more confident with the music, he would ‘find’ his character. Frank’s reply to this innocent suggestion? ‘Don’t give me any of that Actors Studio bullsh*t!’ he bellowed within earshot of other cast members.
Hurt by Sinatra’s attitude, Brando began to goad and tease him.
They share a scene in Nathan Detroit’s favourite diner. Nathan tries to trap Sky into making a bet about which dessert is served more at the restaurant – cheesecake or strudel.
Sinatra had to eat a slice of cheesecake in the scene, a pudding he hated. Every time they were about to finish the shot, Brando would mumble on purpose or pretend to misremember his line, forcing Sinatra to eat another mouthful of cheesecake.
At the tenth take, Sinatra slammed his fork down on the table and yelled, ‘How much cheesecake do you think I can eat?’
Their feud escalated dramatically.
According to legend, Brando was driving home from the studio on his motorbike, when a big car suddenly zoomed ahead of him and braked hard, forcing him to follow suit.
Three goons wearing white fedoras got out, grabbed an astonished Brando and shoved him into the back of their car. As they drove through the night, a large man sitting next to Brando threatened the star with death or disfigurement before saying, ‘Sinatra sends his regards.
It’s a real gem of an old Hollywood tale. But, after some research, I’m afraid to say this version of the story never happened.
The real story is just as thrilling. While researching the role of Masterson, Brando lived at the Astor Hotel in New York. He would venture out every afternoon into the heart of Runyon’s world and observe wiseguys at work.
One afternoon, after watching Brando gawping in their direction, some Mafia boys picked him up and chauffeured him around the Manhattan underworld.
There were no threats. On the contrary, the gangsters were very amused and flattered by Brando’s interest in their day-to-day lives. They dropped him off at the Astor at the end of the tour in one piece and wished him well.
Back on set, Sinatra developed a nasty nickname for Brando on the back of the delivery of his lines: Mumbles.
Brando fought back. Gossiping with the cast, he described Sinatra as ‘The kind of guy who, when he dies, will go to heaven and give God a hard time for making him bald.’
Still, if the brilliance of the film was partly due to the duo’s differences, then thank God for their mutual loathing.
