Guys And Dolls
In 1955 Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra dazzled as Sky Masterson and Nathan Detroit in MGM’s film version of the hit play. But here’s a 1952 newspaper item written by famed entertainment columnist Louella Parsons: “Is this a natural, or isn’t it—Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in Guys and Dolls! Paramount owned the film rights to the original Damon Runyon story before it became a top stage musical. But the movie with Bing and Bob will also carry those wonderful Frank Loesser tunes from the show. Bing will be the gambler-singer [Masterson] and Bob inherits the Sam Levine [Detroit] comedy role.”
It is interesting to imagine what might have been...
Bing did record Fugue for Tinhorns with Frank (and it was very good) and he and Frank Sinatra covered it again on TV. And Abe Burrows who wrote the original script both wrote and appeared in sketches for Bing Crosby Radio shows. I can imagine it, though some songs in the eventual film were specifically added for Frank Sinatra.
ReplyDeleteNot so sure that Bob would have been convincing as Nathan though!
I think Bob could have been okay but because of their Road movies together I do not think they could have made Guys And Dolls. It would have turned into another Road movie.
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