Synopsis

Although there are detail differences between the stage and movie versions, the plot is essentially based around the activities of New York petty criminals and professional gamblers. Nathan Detroit makes a living by running an (illegal) "floating crap game", despite constant encouragement to "go straight" by Miss Adelaide, a nightclub singer to whom he has been engaged for fourteen years.

When a surge of "high-rollers" comes to town, Nathan is pressured to find a place to hold his floating crap game. Due to strong police activity, he can only find one spot, the Biltmore garage. The owner's requirement, however, is a $1000 deposit for security.

Trying to obtain the money, Nathan comes across Sky Masterson, a gambler willing to bet on virtually anything. Nathan proposes a bet which seems impossible to lose: take Sarah Brown, a straight-walking sister at the Save a Soul Mission, to dinner ... in Havana, Cuba.

Surprisingly, Sky manages to get Sarah to agree to the date, putting Nathan in an even worse position. Over the course of their date, Sky manages to break down Sarah's social inhibitions, and they begin to fall in love with one another.

Returning to New York and to their regular lives, Sarah and Sky face the reality of trying to justify their love while retaining their incompatible lifestyles.

Most of the characters are generally portrayed as preying on society's weakness for gambling, but although they make threats, they are not prone to regular violence - and are played largely for comic element.

There is a suggestion that Nathan Detroit may be Jewish, due to his frequent use of Yinglish phrases, especially in the song "Sue Me" which includes "nu" (an interjection roughly meaning well, as of expectation), and turns of phrase such as "What can you do me?"

Musical numbers

• "Runyonland"
• "Fugue for Tinhorns"
• "Follow the Fold"
• "The Oldest Established"
• "I'll Know"
• "A Bushel and a Peck" (theatre) / "Pet Me Poppa" (movie)
• "Adelaide's Lament"
• "Guys and Dolls"
• "Ever Loving Adelaide"
• "If I Were A Bell"
• "My Time of Day"
• "I've Never Been in Love Before" (theatre) / "A Woman In Love" (movie)
• "Take Back Your Mink"
• "More I Cannot Wish You" (theatre)
• Crapshooters' Ballet
• "Luck Be a Lady"
• "Sue Me"
• "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat"
• "Marry the Man Today" (theatre)

Broadway production

The show opened at the 46th Street Theatre on November 24, 1950. It won the 1952 Tony Award for Best Musical.

Cast:

• Robert Alda as Sky Masterson
• Vivian Blaine as Miss Adelaide
• Sam Levene as Nathan Detroit
• Isabel Bigley as Sister Sarah Brown
• Pat Rooney as Arvide Abernathy
• B. S. Pully as Big Jule
• Stubby Kaye as Nicely-Nicely Johnson
• Tom Pedi as Harry The Horse
• Johnny Silver as Benny Southstreet

London production

The show opened at the Coliseum on May 28, 1953 and ran for 555 performances.

Cast:

• Jerry Wayne as Sky Masterson
• Vivian Blaine as Miss Adelaide
• Sam Levene as Nathan Detroit
• Lizbeth Webb as Sister Sarah Brown
• Ernest Butcher as Arvide Abernathy
• Lew Herbert as Big Jule
• Stubby Kaye as Nicely-Nicely Johnson
• Tom Pedi as Harry The Horse
• Johnny Silver as Benny Southstreet

Goldwyn movie production 1955

The movie version was directed by Joseph Mankiewicz.

Cast:

• Marlon Brando as Sky Masterson
• Vivian Blaine as Miss Adelaide
• Frank Sinatra as Nathan Detroit
• Jean Simmons as Sister Sarah Brown
• Stubby Kaye as Nicely-Nicely Johnson
• Johnny Silver as Benny Southstreet
• Robert Keith as Lieutenant Brannigan
• Sheldon Leonard as Harry the Horse
• Regis Toomey as Arvide Abernathy

The original theatrical aspect ratio is 2.55:1

Revivals

Guys and Dolls has been performed all over the world.

1976

This version featured an all-black cast and Motown-style musical arrangements by Danny Holgate and Horace Ott. It opened at the Broadway Theatre on July 21 and ran for 239 performances.

Cast:

• Norma Donaldson as Miss Adelaide
• Robert Guillaume as Nathan Detroit
• Ernestine Jackson as 'Sister' Sarah Brown
• James Randolph as Sky Masterson
• Edye Byrde as General Matilda B. Cartwright
• Clark Morgan as Lt. Brannigan
• Ken Page as Nicely-Nicely Johnson
• Christophe Pierre as Benny Southstreet
• Emett "Babe" Wallace as Arvide Abernathy
• Derrick Bell as Joey Biltmore
• Walter White as Big Jule

1982 

Richard Eyre directed a major revival at the Royal National Theatre, London. The first Director of the National Theatre, Laurence Olivier, had earlier wished to stage the piece and play Nathan Detroit, but was prevented by illness; many theatregoers therefore found it pleasing that Eyre’s production was staged in the NT’s largest auditorium – the Olivier Theatre. The principals were Ian Charleson (Sky), Julie Covington (Sarah), Bob Hoskins (Nathan) and Julia McKenzie (Miss Adelaide).

1992 

The show opened at the Martin Beck Theatre on April 14 (after 33 preview performances starting March 16), and ran for nearly three years (1143 performances).

Cast:

• Peter Gallagher as Sky Masterson
• Faith Princeas Miss Adelaide
• Nathan Lane as Nathan Detroit
• Josie de Guzman as Sister Sarah Brown
• John Carpenter as Arvide Abernathy
• Herschel Sparber as Big Jule
• Walter Bobbie as Nicely-Nicely Johnson
• Ernie Sabella as Harry The Horse
• J. K. Simmons as Benny Southstreet

1995 

In Las Vegas, featured an all-star cast including Jack Jones, Maureen McGovern and Frank Gorshin.

2005 

In London, Michael Grandage's Donmar Warehouse production began previews on 19 May 2005, featuring Ewan McGregor, Jane Krakowski, Douglas Hodge and Jenna Russell. On 5 December 2005, Nigel Harman replaced McGregor as Sky Masterson, and Sarah Lancashire replaced Krakowski as Miss Adelaide, whilst Nigel Lindsay replaced Douglas Hodge as Nathan Detroit. Lancashire was forced to leave the production on 4th January 2006 with illness having played only four full weeks of performances. The new cast from 6 March 2006 starred Adam Cooper as Sky Masterson, Sally Ann Triplett replacing Lyndsay Britton (who covered for Sarah Lancashire), Kelly Price and Neil Morrissey. Patrick Swayze and Claire Sweeney are due to take over as Nathan Detroit and Miss Adelaide respectively from 10 July 2006. Adam Cooper and Kelly Price will continue in the other lead roles. The London revival continues until January 2007.

Takarazuka Production

Takarazuka Revue, the all-female revue compuny in Japan had produced the musical in 1984-85 and 2002. Both were performed by Moon Troupe.

1985

Cast:

• Daichi Mao as Sky Masterson
• Kuroki Hitomi as Sarah Brown
• Tsurugi Miyuki as Nathan Detroit
• Harukaze Hitomi and Nishina Yuri as Adelaide
• Go Mayuka as Benny Southstreet
• Misa Noeru as Nicely-Nicely Johnson
• Suzukaze Mayo as Rusty Charley
• Kyou Misa as General Cartwright
• Natori Rei as Arvide Abernathy
• O Natsuki as Big Jule
• Kiri Satomi as Harry the Horse
• Asazuki Mario as Lieutenant Brannigan
• Kuni Natsuki as Mimi

2002

Cast:

• Shibuki Jun as Sky Masterson
• Emi Kurara as Sarah Brown
• Yamato Yuuga as Nathan Detroit
• Kiriya Hiromu as Adelaide
• Oozora Yuuhi as Nicely-Nicely Johnson
• Natsukawa Yura as General Cartwright
• Shiomi Maho as Big Jule
• Ritsu Tomomi as Lieutenant Brannigan