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"Guys & Dolls" was a
Broadway blockbuster that opened on November 24, 1950 at New York's
46th Street Theatre. In its three year run, the show played an
impressive 1,200 performances. The original cast starred Robert Alda
as Sky Masterson, Vivian Blaine as Miss Adelaide, Isabel Bigley as
Sarah Brown, Stubby Kaye as Nicely-Nicely Johnson and Sam Levene as
Nathan Detroit.. The production was directed by George S. Kaufman.
Michael Kidd staged the dance numbers. Both music and lyrics were
written by Frank Loesser. The original production won five Tony
awards: "Best Musical," "Best Actor in a Musical" (Robert Alda).
"Best Featured Actress in a Musical" (Isabel Bigley). "Best
Choreography" (Michael Kidd) and "Best Director" (George S.
Kaufman).
"Guys & Dolls" has since been revived three times in New York. The
most successful revival was the 1995 Nathan Lane and Faith Prince
version which played over 1,100 performances at the Martin Beck
Theatre on Broadway. It too, won five Tony awards, including "Best
Musical Revival," "Best Direction of a Musical" (Jerry Zaks), and
"Best Actress in a Musical" (Faith Prince).
Based on characters by Damon Runyon, "Guys & Dolls" is a story of
two romances. Nathan Detroit is torn between love for his long-time
fiancée Miss Adelaide and his addiction to games of chance. Sky
Masterson, another slick gambler, finds true love in Sarah Brown, an
officer at the "Save-A-Soul" mission. The story plays out in a
picturesque Times Square setting among a host of sundry street-wise
characters and ends with a double wedding. Everybody lives happily
ever after.
The film version of "Guys & Dolls" was released in 1955 . Marquee
names were brought in to star in the picture. Screen performances by
Marlon Brando (Sky Masterson) and Frank Sinatra (Nathan Detroit)
forever immortalized the story. Jean Simmons captured hearts with
her portrayal of Sarah Brown. Vivian Blaine and Stubby Kaye reprised
their stage roles and became two of the most endearing second
bananas ever to be portrayed on film. The film received four Oscar
nominations, but came up empty handed. Among the Oscar nominees were
Irene Sharaff for "Best Costumes" and Harry Stradling for "Best
Cinematography." However, the film did manage to capture awards for
"Best Musical" and "Best Actress" (Jean Simmons) at the Golden
Globes.
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The
Barbra Connection |
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"Guys & Dolls"
has a rich score, and four of its best known songs have been
recorded by Barbra Streisand over the years. Her rendition of
"I'll Know" first appeared on Barbra's 1967 album, Simply
Streisand. In 1993, Barbra would resurrect this chestnut
and incorporate it into her biographically themed performance,
Barbra The Concert. As she told the story of her
childhood adulation of screen star Marlon Brando, Barbra sang
"I'll Know" in duet with Brando's screen performance. In the
ultimate fan tribute, Barbra superimposed her own youthful
image into "Guys & Dolls" right next to Brando as he sang the
ballad. |
From
1993's "Barbra The Concert"
Barbra and Brando sing "together" |
Other "Guys &
Dolls" performances by Barbra include "I've Never Been In Love
Before" and
"Luck Be A Lady" (both from Back to Broadway). "Adelaide's
Lament" was added as a bonus track on Barbra's CD version of
The Broadway Album. |
Michael Kidd
The late Michael Kidd staged the
musical dance numbers for the original Broadway production of "Guys &
Dolls." For the
film version, Kidd was hired to work with Marlon Brando and to stage
the film's musical numbers. For
his Broadway work on "Guys & Dolls," he won a Tony Award as Best
Choreographer in 1950. To Streisand fans, Michael Kidd will always be
remembered as the choreographer on Barbra's 1969 film, "Hello,
Dolly!".
Harry Stradling
Harry Stradling was nominated for an Oscar for the film version of
"Guys & Dolls," He would later become the cinematographer for Barbra's
first four films. His final Hollywood film was with Barbra in 1970's
"The Owl and the Pussycat." Stradling passed away in February of that
year.
Stradling's uncanny ability to capture the essence of Barbra's screen
persona endeared him as her all time favorite cinematographer.
Stradling won two Oscars ("The Picture of Dorian Gray" and "My Fair
Lady"). Working with Barbra, he received Oscar nominations for both
"Funny Girl" and "Hello, Dolly!". In total, Stradling was a
fourteen-time Oscar nominee.
Irene Sharaff
Irene Sharaff created the costumes
for the original production of "Guys & Dolls." She would go on to
outfit Barbra for the Broadway run of "Funny Girl" along with her
first two films, "Funny Girl" and "Hello, Dolly!" The costumes Barbra
wore during her Central Park concert were also created by Sharaff.
More Information About "Guys & Dolls"
"Guys & Dolls" on Internet Broadway Database
"Guys & Dolls" on Internet Movie Database
YouTube - "I'll Know" from Barbra The Concert
(New York) |