Review of Love Me, Love My Doll (2007) by Jamie T — 08 Apr 2010

Yep. You ask what might be one of my favorite musicals? You ask is it Guys and Dolls? And I say, "Yep." How I dream, even now that I'm of the age to cease daydreams, that such a rebel like Marlon Brando might walk into my innocent life, turn it upside down, and top it off with a night in Havana... Havana, Cuba, that is. I would sing to Marlon about being a 'Woman in Love' and he'd let out in raspy voice in song to me, then take me in his arms, kiss me, and and just look at me with those 'Eyes of a Man whose in Love.' Ah, but I live in reality.

I was never impressed with Jean Simmons. Not in this movie. Not in any movie. Although I admire her taste in character roles. She always seems to end up as the innocent type.* I admire the females who remain lady like even in Hollywood.

Frank Sinatra is beautiful. Might I repeat my 'Yep.'.

Let's not forget the soundtrack. The soundtrack takes on the highest priority in my mind. Marlon is gifted and his absence would destroy the movie but where would Marlon be if there were no book and score to give him a job. The songs are brilliant. They incorporate the slick and sly movement of a gambler in the jubilant and peppy notes of a song. Genius. One would admit that it's hard to create an entire musical with the above criteria. Guys and Dolls is a musical in it's own genre. Criminals? Musical? Try putting those together for a smash hit musical that will see the test of time.

I highly recommend Guys and Dolls if you haven't already understood my admiration for the film. Watch, listen, and enjoy.

*I have not seen every Jean Simmons movie ever made. If you, the reader, are aware of a great many movies where Jean Simmons is not described as innocent, do not hate me. I will get to them eventually and change my mind when the time is right.