More Than A Feud
Some Hollywood feuds are harmless disagreements—this was not one of them. When Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra banged heads on the set of Guys and Dolls in 1955, their hatred ran so deep it went way beyond petty insults. They despised each other. So much so that whispers of mob involvement—and even talk of having Brando 'taken out'—turned a professional rivalry into a dark and disturbing chapter in Hollywood history.
It Began Before The Musical
The tension between them didn’t begin on Guys and Dolls. A year earlier, Sinatra lost the lead in On the Waterfront—a role Brando took and turned into an Oscar-winning performance. Sinatra never forgave him, and by 1955, that bitterness was boiling.
Columbia Pictures, On the Waterfront (1954)
Sinatra Wanted Sky Masterson
When Guys and Dolls was being cast, Sinatra wanted the part of Sky Masterson. He was the obvious choice—he could sing, he had the charm, and the role felt tailor-made for Ol' Blue Eyes. But the studio gave it to Brando, a non-singer. Needless to say, Frank was not happy.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
A Bad Match Right From the Start
On set, their styles clashed instantly. Sinatra liked fast takes, no nonsense, clean delivery. Brando was slow, brooding, and unpredictable. To Sinatra, Brando was sloppy. To Brando, Sinatra was fake. It was gasoline just waiting for a match to be lit.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Guys and Dolls (1955)
The Nickname
Sinatra began mocking Brando by calling him Mumbles for his quiet, brooding delivery. This wasn’t a playful joke—it was meant to hurt. Brando never forgot it.
Carl Van Vechten, Wikimedia Commons
The Cheesecake War
Then came the cheesecake scene. Brando deliberately messed up takes, forcing Sinatra to keep eating slice after slice. By the eighth plate, Sinatra lost it—slamming his fork down and unleashing a string of curses. The crew watched in stunned silence.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Guys and Dolls (1955)
A Battle of Egos
From then on, every day on set was a battle. Brando quietly needled Sinatra with little pranks. Sinatra simmered with open rage. The movie became less about making a musical and more about surviving each other.
ullstein bild Dtl., Getty Images
The Director’s Headache
Joseph L. Mankiewicz, the director, spent more time refereeing fights than filming. Neither man could be fired—they were too valuable. Mankiewicz simply tried to keep the production from collapsing.
John Springer Collection, Getty Images
Sinatra’s Breaking Point
At one point, Sinatra threatened to walk off the film entirely. He hated working with Brando so much that he considered breaking his contract. The studio had to talk him down.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Brando’s Revenge Tactics
Brando rarely fought Sinatra head-on. Instead, he waged quiet war—forgetting lines, dragging out takes, or pretending not to hear direction. He knew these tricks drove Sinatra mad.
Studio publicity still, Wikimedia Commons
Luck Be a Lady Goes to Brando
Adding insult to injury, Brando got to sing Luck Be a Lady on screen. Sinatra thought it was his song. He later recorded a definitive version—but in the movie, it belonged to Brando. That stung deeply.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Guys and Dolls (1955)
An Uneasy Truce
For the cameras, they faked civility. But behind the scenes, it was daggers drawn. Cast and crew whispered that the two couldn’t stand to be in the same room together without sparks flying.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
Opposite Worlds
Part of the feud was lifestyle. Sinatra was Rat Pack glitz, Las Vegas casinos, and smooth suits. Brando was rebellious, political, and restless. They were opposites in every way—and they knew it.
None visible/Paramount Pictures, Wikimedia Commons
Mob Whispers Spread
Sinatra’s mob ties were no secret, and as tensions escalated, rumors began to swirl. People whispered that Sinatra might use his connections to “deal with” Brando once and for all.
20th Century Fox, Wikimedia Commons
Threatened by Three Men
According to Brando’s friend Carlo Fiore, one night Brando was cornered by three armed men and forced into a car. They gave him a terrifying choice: a bullet to the chest—or disfigurement so brutal no surgeon could repair it. Brando believed Sinatra was behind it.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Guys and Dolls (1955)
Brando Shaken, Not Silent
Shaken, Brando later admitted he “sweated blood” during the ordeal. He told friends he had never been so scared—and yes, he soiled himself from terror. It wasn’t just a rumor to him; it felt like a brush with death.
Mondadori Portfolio, Getty Images
A Bodyguard for Protection
The incident rattled Brando so badly he hired a bodyguard. For a man known for toughness, it was a rare sign of vulnerability. The feud had become a matter of survival, not just ego.
Carl Van Vechten, Wikimedia Commons
Fear on the Film Set
After the alleged threat, Brando came to set guarded and tense. Crew members noticed the difference. What had started as a bitter rivalry now hung over the production like a storm cloud.
Sunset Boulevard, Getty Images
Sinatra’s Reputation Hardened
Whether or not Sinatra ordered the intimidation, the story added to his image as someone not to cross. To Brando, though, it confirmed his worst fears—Sinatra wasn’t just difficult, he was dangerous.
The Hate Never Cooled
When filming wrapped, the feud didn’t fade. Sinatra kept mocking Brando for decades, calling him Mumbles and trashing method acting as “nonsense.” His bitterness was lifelong.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
Brando’s Side of It
Brando mostly stayed quiet, but when pressed, he didn’t mince words. He described Sinatra as a bully—talented, yes, but arrogant and small. The respect was never there.
Donaldson Collection, Getty Images
The Press Loved It
Hollywood reporters couldn’t resist. A feud this nasty—with mob rumors, food fights, and Oscar grudges—was tabloid gold. The legend grew bigger than the movie itself.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Guys and Dolls (1955)
A Divided Town
Actors and insiders often took sides. Some saw Sinatra as a pro, unfairly tormented by Brando. Others admired Brando for standing up to a star with mob ties. It split Hollywood down the middle.
Capitol Records (File No. 3860-25). Photographer unknown., Wikimedia Commons
Clash of Two Hollywoods
In many ways, the feud was symbolic. Sinatra represented old Hollywood polish. Brando represented the raw new wave. Their hatred was personal, but it also embodied a generational shift.
Carl Van Vechten, Wikimedia Commons
Never a Reconciliation
Unlike some rivalries, theirs never softened with time. They never worked together again. They never buried the hatchet. The contempt lasted a lifetime.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Guys and Dolls (1955)
The Mafia Rumor Lives On
Historians still debate the kidnapping story. Some dismiss it as gossip. Others believe Brando’s fear proves something happened. Either way, the rumor refuses to go away.
Philippe Halsman, Wikimedia Commons
Not Just Talk
Whatever the truth, Brando acted like a man who had been threatened. He carried that fear through filming, and those who knew him said he never fully shrugged it off.
Carl Van Vechten, Wikimedia Commons
Two Careers, One Shadow
Both men went on to greatness. Brando gave the world The Godfather (a role Sinatra also wanted by the way), while Sinatra became an enduring American icon. But their feud lingers like a shadow over their legacies.
Paramount Pictures, The Godfather (1972)
Fans Still Argue
To this day, fans will debate who was at fault. Was Sinatra the victim of Brando’s antics—or did Brando stand up to a mob-backed bully? Team Brando or Team Sinatra...Where do you stand?
Edward Cronenweth (1903-1990) [1], Wikimedia Commons
The Feud Outshines the Film
Guys and Dolls was a hit, but today, most people (especially in Hollywood circles) talk about the feud more than the movie. The clash of these two titans is the story everyone remembers.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
More Than Gossip
This wasn’t just Hollywood bickering. It was real hatred, spiked with fear, power, and the threat of violence. And it’s become one of Hollywood’s most enduring tales.
Distributed by CBS/CBS Radio. Photographer uncredited and unknown., Wikimedia Commons
Hollywood’s Darkest Rivalry
Plenty of stars have clashed and feuded (it is Hollywood after all). But few left behind a feud as infamous as Brando vs. Sinatra. Two legends, one bitter war, and a story that still sends shivers decades later.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
You Might Also Like:
Actors Who Came Back After Very Public Controversies
Beloved Actors Who Are Actually A Nightmare To Work With
