Damn Yankees is a frothy, faithful adaptation of the 1956 Broadway hit. In an amusing slant on the "Faust" legend, aging baseball fan Joe Boyd (Robert Schafer) is given an opportunity to lead his beloved Washington Senators to victory by a devilish gent named Applegate (Ray Walston). Boyd is transformed into handsome young "Shoeless" Joe Hardy from Hannibal, Mo. (and in the process, the part is taken over by Tab Hunter, who's better than everyone said he was back in 1958). Joe becomes the
Senators' star player, but at the price of his immortal soul; he isn't terribly worried, however, since he's built an escape clause into his contract with Applegate. To see that Joe doesn't get a chance to exercise that clause, Applegate sends his luscious assistant Lola (Gwen Verdon) to seduce the ballplayer. This effort doesn't work, but Applegate still manages to cause Joe to lose his chance at salvation. But there is still a ray of hope--if Hardy can win the deciding pennant game, he'll be able to foil Applegate's master plan of causing the Senators to lose. With Lola's aid, Joe gives the devil more than his due. The principal selling angle of Damn Yankees, beyond the presence of Gwen Verdon and Ray Walston delightfully recreating their stage roles, are the wonderful Richard Adler/Jerry Ross songs, including "You've Gotta Have Heart" and "What Lola Wants, Lola Gets." Based on the novel The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant, the film (like the play before it) unfortunately throws away Wallop's wryly ironic climax; as a result, the last scenes appear rushed and haphazard. But why quibble? Damn Yankees is and always was a rock-solid piece of entertainment, as proven by its recent S.R.O. Broadway revival. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Damn Yankees team, which ran the score high for three seasons in Broadway's legit ballpark, was reassembled to go to bat in this sparkling film version.
This version of the Broadway hit offers a rare opportunity to see most of the stage performers recreating their roles, plus an early glimpse of the genius of Bob Fosse.
Overbright, overdone version of the stage play. The upcoming remake can only be an improvement.
April 18, 2010
jay nixon
Super Reviewer
Hi, my name is Walter and I hate the New York Yankees. Hi Walter! Go back to Boston, you bum! Actually, I'm a Mets fan...but more on that later... "Damn Yankees" is a musical about a middle-aged fan named Joe who roots for his beloved Washington Senators every day during the baseball season much to the consternation
of his loyal wife. He is frustrated by their lack of success until the devil(a very liverly Ray Walston) makes him an offer to turn him into the best baseball player ever, so he could help his favorite baseball team beat the hated Yankees. I was entertained by "Damn Yankees"(otherwise known as the "Barry Bonds Story") but I was surprised that it had more to do with an old-fashioned view of marriage(and avoiding the temptations that could lead a husband down the wrong path) than it was about baseball. That having been said, the character of the female sports writer was definitely ahead of the time. Oh and I could not quite buy Gwen Verdon as the all-time seductress but she sure could dance. Oh and the Mets won today 5-1.
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