The showtunes are weapons-grade: especially Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat, which never fails to get any audience on its feet. A must.

Joseph L Mankiewicz's adaptation of the Frank Loesser Broadway musical, itself adapted from Damon Runyon stories, looks a treat. The wonder of the film is that it combines widescreen colour and opulence with an earthy, street-level humour.

Brando the singing actor and Sinatra the acting singer make a remarkable pair as sharp-suited gangsters and gamblers, along with their "dolls", Vivian Blaine and the English actress Jean Simmons.

Brando is an interesting — and successful — choice, bringing his Method maneuvers (Sinatra derisively nicknamed him "Mumbles") to the role of Sky Masterson.