Guys and Dolls..again.

Guys and Dolls'. 1955. - directed by Joseph L Mankiewicz.

This musical is on tv 65 years after it was made. I'm older than that.
After 2hours 25 minutes of it I feel like I'm 18.

I've become Jean Simmons, I'm eager to fall into the arms of the youthful Marlon Brando.


I've never taken to Frank Sinatra but I have to admit he can sing.


Somehow I overlook that Marlon's character Sky whirls the Sally Army girl round and kisses her and she cornily struggles, relaxes and afterwards slaps him. I think it's very
clear she likes him despite her straight-laced self protection, but it could be seen as an assault.


Later in Cuba, the struggle for the revolution having started 1953 but not won until 1959, Sky spikes her milk with Bacardi which she laps up as she becomes passionate and even violent in fending off a Cuban lady who catches his eye.


The thing is Sky does not take advantage of the lady throwing herself at him but takes her safely back to America and falls in love with her. He's a rich gangster with a beautiful suit and handsome with those eyes and voice and intensity and a challenge for a missionary who needs the traditionally bad boy to sweep her off her feet.


The contraceptive pill wasn't brought out until 1960, not available to unmarried women until 1967 in UK , 1972 in USA , arguably changing sexual behaviour so that this plot would no longer be credible.


Meanwhile Frank Sinatra is stuck in a fifties convention that women seek to trap unwilling men into marriage, but in the end seems to be pleased to take part in the double wedding that ends the film so absurdly abruptly but satisfyingly.


Crime, gambling and threats of murder are taken as seriously as in an episode of the cartoon 'Top Cat.'


Women are either 'dolls', dancers with feathers, or red uniformed buttoned up Christian street preachers.


The song and dance routines are remarkably slick, there are two great songs 'Luck be my lady tonight' and 'A woman in love'.


It was in colour but I have trouble remembering this as it has the allure and charm of black and white.


Well there it is - still being scheduled and still a treat.