Overview
A high-stakes bet leads to unexpected romance and musical chaos in the heart of New York City.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- buoyant
- romantic
- classic movie night
- musical singalong
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as an escapist, inventive CinemaScope musical whose ensemble charm and songs outweigh casting reservations.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Songs including "Luck Be a Lady" and "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat" arise from the gamblers' bets, mission life, and romantic negotiations.
Nathan Detroit's floating craps game and the city's gamblers are rendered as colorful, theatrical figures rather than realistic criminals.
Sky Masterson accepts Nathan's bet that he can persuade mission worker Sarah Brown to accompany him to Havana.
The production uses CinemaScope scale and choreographed ensemble numbers to enlarge New York's gambling and missionary worlds.
Films like Guys and Dolls, and why
Singin' in the Rain
glamorous classic hollywood musical comedy with romantic entanglements and an ensemble of colorful rogues
The Music Man
romantic musical comedy built around mistaken identities, witty banter, and elaborate song-and-dance spectacle
Pal Joey
stylized musical comedy blending romance, urban nightlife, and larger-than-life performances
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
classic ensemble musical with comic crime-adjacent characters, romance, and infectious show tunes
Movie Details
- Director
- Joseph L. Mankiewicz
- Release Date
- 1955-12-23
- Runtime
- 149 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (264)
Cast
- Marlon Brando
- Jean Simmons
- Frank Sinatra
- Vivian Blaine
- Robert Keith
- Stubby Kaye
- B.S. Pully
- Johnny Silver
- Sheldon Leonard
- Danny Dayton
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, BroadwayHD, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Broadway HD Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Guys and Dolls about?
- A buoyant New York musical comedy where gamblers, missionaries, and romantics gamble on love, luck, and respectability.
- What is Guys and Dolls like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Guys and Dolls as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Guys and Dolls violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Guys and Dolls.
- What did critics think of Guys and Dolls?
- Critics broadly regard it as an escapist, inventive CinemaScope musical whose ensemble charm and songs outweigh casting reservations.
- Which films are like Guys and Dolls?
- Films with a similar feel include Singin' in the Rain, The Music Man, Pal Joey, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
- How long is Guys and Dolls?
- Guys and Dolls runs 149 minutes.
- Where can I watch Guys and Dolls?
- In United States, Guys and Dolls streams on Amazon Prime Video, BroadwayHD, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Broadway HD Amazon Channel.
