---
title: "Guys and Dolls: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/guys-and-dolls/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/guys-and-dolls"
critics_score: 82
critics_reviews: 8
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Guys and Dolls (1955): what the critics said

Critics' score 82 from 8 reviews: 7 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative.

Most critics greet Guys and Dolls warmly, with praise clustering around the songs, performances and energetic choreography. The reviews repeatedly credit the cast with bringing the musical’s theatrical world to life, particularly Jean Simmons, while Michael Kidd’s choreography draws specific praise. The songs remain a consistent pleasure across the reviews, with “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat” and Simmons’s rendition of “If I Were a Bell” singled out.

The spread is largely positive, with one mixed assessment and no outright rejection. Brando prompts the clearest disagreement: Radio Times calls him the definitive Sky Masterson, while Eye for Film criticises his singing and dancing, alongside the film’s length and lack of polish. The theatrical presentation also divides opinion: Little White Lies finds the sets stagey and some dialogue stilted, whereas The New Yorker praises the way theatrical artifice becomes cinema. These reservations rarely outweigh the enthusiasm for the musical numbers.

## Empire — Angie Errigo

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 June 2006. 

Errigo calls it one of the most thrilling and entertaining musicals. She particularly praises the vibrant performances, memorable songs and energetic choreography.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/guys-dolls-review/)

## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 25 December 2014. 

Bradshaw finds the musical an enduring delight, though Sinatra and Brando’s roles are too atypical for their pairing to match their individual stature. He especially praises the exuberant showtunes, singling out “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat.”

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/dec/25/guys-and-dolls-review)

## Variety — Variety Staff

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1954. 

Variety praises the film as a polished, lively musical. It singles out the casting, especially Brando and Simmons making their unconventional romance believable.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/1954/film/reviews/guys-and-dolls-1200417917/)

## Little White Lies — Adam Woodward

Rating 4/4/4. 19 December 2014. 

The review celebrates the film as one of the last great MGM musicals, despite some stilted dialogue and stagey sets. It especially praises Jean Simmons, whose performance and rendition of “If I Were a Bell” outshine her co-stars.

[Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/guys-and-dolls)

## Radio Times — Tony Sloman

Rating 4/5. 

Sloman praises the film as a great musical and calls Brando the definitive Sky Masterson. He singles out Michael Kidd’s choreography and the film’s depiction of Broadway as highlights.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-lyarra/guys-and-dolls/)

## Time Out — Tom Huddleston

Rating 4/5. 15 December 2014. 

The available text welcomes the return of this brassy musical to the big screen. It singles out the chance to see the film theatrically, though the full review is unavailable.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/guys-and-dolls)

## The New Yorker — Richard Brody

Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 20 November 2012. 

Brody finds the film a vivid cinematic transformation of theatrical artifice. He especially praises the cast’s performances and the way they bring Frank Loesser’s songs to life.

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/dvd-of-the-week-guys-and-dolls)

## Eye for Film — Leanne McGrath

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 9 June 2006. 

The critic finds the film enjoyable despite its length and lack of polish. She singles out Vivian Blaine’s performance and the energetic choreography for praise, while criticizing Marlon Brando’s singing and dancing.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/guys-and-dolls-film-review-by-leanne-mcgrath)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/guys-and-dolls.md