 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Guys and Dolls
- Review Date: January 10, 2005
- NR
- Genre: Musical
- 1955
Common Sense Media says
Classic Sinatra/Brando musical is a whole lot of fun.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that overall this is a family-friendly classic movie musical, but characters do lie and gamble. Also, Nathan gets missionary Adelaide drunk by telling her that her frothy rum drink is "sweet milk."
What's the story?
The musical GUYS AND DOLLS takes place among the small-time underworld characters of New York. Nathan Detroit (Frank Sinatra) runs a "floating crap game." But he doesn't have enough money to book the next location. And, his (very) long- term fianceé, showgirl Adelaide (Vivian Blaine), is so distressed over his failure to marry her that she has developed a psychosomatic cold. Trying to get the money he needs, Nathan makes a bet with Sky Masterson (Marlon Brando). After Sky brags that he can get any "doll" to go out with him, Nathan challenges him to ask Sarah Brown (Jean Simmons), the local mission worker. Sky persuades Sarah to go to Havana for dinner, and, after he spikes her drink with liquor, they have a wonderful time and she starts to fall for him. When they get back, however, she finds that the crap game was held in the mission, and feels betrayed. In order to persuade her that his intentions are honorable, Sky rolls the dice in the crap game against the "souls" of the other players, and when he wins, they must all go to a meeting at the mission, the two couples get married, and everyone lives happily ever after.
Is it any good?
This musical classic, based on the stories of Damon Runyon, is a lot of fun, despite the fact that two of the leads are not singers and none of them can dance. But Brando and Simmons do surprisingly well, especially in the scenes set in Havana, and the movie is brash and splashy enough to be thoroughly entertaining.
Themes worth discussing include honesty in relationships and in competition (Harry the Horse cheats and threatens the other players) and how people decide whether to align themselves with (or between) the two extremes presented by the mission workers and the grifters and gamblers.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how Adelaide says she has developed a cold from waiting for Nathan to marry her. How do people get physically sick from unhappiness or worry? What is the meaning of Sky's father's advice about the deck of cards? Is that good advice? Who changes the most in this movie? How can you tell?
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AGE
Great classic. Tweens and up will enjoy.
I have always loved old movies...especially musicals. This is an excellent production.
The messages for kids are a little iffy...alcohol use (one character gets very drunk) and gambling is a big theme throughout the movie (crap-shoot).
Technically the main characters are gang members and keep dodging the police. And one of the woman co-stars is a night club dancer/singer who does a couple somewhat questionable dance numbers.
However, the end is happy with the them all reforming their ways and getting married. : )
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AGE
amazing
I WAS IN THIS PLAY AND LOVED IT! the movie is not quite as good...but I will forgive them.
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Kid, 12 years old
April 2, 2011
AGE
Really good
I saw the play and LOVED it!!
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AGE
Great Musical
Great movie, not as good as the play, I'm in the play. Pet me papa is an inapropriate song, along with Take Back Your Mink. Nathon and Adelade are not married, but have been engaged for 14 years. Sky gets Sarah drunk in Havana, Cuba. Fist fight in the bar, pretty fake though.
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| Studio: | MGM/UA |
| Director: | Joseph L. Mankiewicz |
| Cast: | Frank Sinatra, Jean Simmons, Marlon Brando |
| Genre: | Musical |
| Run time: | 150 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | November 3, 1955 |
| DVD release date: | April 18, 2000 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
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