This CinemaScope treatment of Frank Loesser's hit Broadway musical Guys and Dolls is a deeply rewarding visual and musical experience. Frank Sinatra turns in one of his best screen performances running a close second to Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons, looking adorable and singing sweetly. In essence this is a piece of photographed theatre mounted on a handsome scale. The striking set designs and a brilliantly executed soundtrack are courtesy of two Broadway craftsmen Oliver Smith and conductor Jay Blackton. Photographer Harry Stradling brings a meticulous eye for detail when his camera stationed on the auditorium side of the frame, peers into Miss Adelaide's bathroom cupboard as she views the lines of medicine bottles in her celebrated "lament". Sinatra, in his vocal prime, sings a new number to Adelaide (Vivian Blaine)--arranged by Nelson Riddle--and Brando and Simmons strike chords in all their scenes from their opening duet "I'll Know" through to their evening out at a Havana bistro where she gets pie-eyed on a Bacardi milk-shake, tipsily wondering "If I were a Bell". Stubby Kaye also from the Broadway cast recreates the show-stopping "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat". Michael Kidd's choreography for "Luck Be a Lady" is razor-sharp and superbly captured in the CinemaScope format, though the formalised staging of the opening ought to have been rethought for this medium. The biggest pity is that Loesser amended some of his lyrics and replaced several tunes from his original score with inferior material. On the DVD: The DVD trailer hosted by Ed Sullivan makes much of the $1,000,000 cheque producer Samuel Goldwyn paid for the rights and the previews of the picture he obtained for his weekly television show. There's no denying that the remastered stereophonic soundtrack captures the Broadway sound to thrilling effect without it being overglamorised. The picture looks splendid too--never settle for the compromise version we've endured all these years on television! --Adrian Edwards
Hapless Private Alvin Corwin (Jerry Lewis) is the lowest of the low at a World War II US Army training camp. With the overbearing sergeant constantly on his back Alvin blunders from one farcical situation to another.
The legendary team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis had their first lead roles in this hilarious service farce that sealed their success. You'll see why when the boys wind up as army recruits Sgt. Victor Puccinelli (Martin) and PFC Alvin Korwin (Lewis) in the most disorganized unit into the armed forces and Lorwin tries to get home to see his new baby. Dino sings and romances the girls Jerry serenades Sgt. McVey (Mike Kellin) in drag and both give a dead-on impersonation of Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald from 'Going My Way' in the company's talent show...
Jerry Lewis plays hapless Pvt. First Class Alvin Corwin and Dean Martin is First Sgt. Vic Puccinelli in this barrack room comedy set in the U.S. around World War 2. Alvin and Vic grew up in the same neighbourhood and Vic watched out for his pal then and still is! All the military stereotypes you would expect are here - a loudmouth drill sergeant a conniving supply Sergeant and a bumbling company commander. 'At War With The Army' was Lewis and Martin's first teaming together.
The Comedy Classic That Shot Martin and Lewis to Stardom. After co-staring as comedy relief in 'My Friend Irma' and 'My Friend Irma Goes West' the legendary team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis had their first lead roles in this hilarious service farce that sealed their success. You'll see why when the boys wind up as army recruits Sgt. Victor Puccinelli (Martin) and PFC Alvin Korwin (Lewis) in the most disorganized unit into the armed forces and Lorwin tries to get home to see his new baby. Dino sings and romances the girls Jerry serenades Sgt. McVey (Mike Kellin) in drag and both give a dead-on impersonation of Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald from 'Going My Way' in the company's talent show. With director Hal Walker (who also led the boys through their next two films 'That's My Boy' and 'Sailor Beware') firmly in command this 1950 classic helped put them among the biggest boxoffice draws in history. Please note: This is a NTSC disc.
The legendary team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis had their first lead roles in this hilarious service farce that sealed their success. You'll see why when the boys wind up as army recruits Sgt. Victor Puccinelli (Martin) and PFC Alvin Korwin (Lewis) in the most disorganized unit into the armed forces, and Lorwin tries to get home to see his new baby. Dino sings and romances the girls, Jerry serenades Sgt. McVey (Mike Kellin) in drag, and both give a dead-on impersonation of Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald from 'Going My Way' in the company's talent show...
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