Movie news on your iPhone today!
Advertisement
Sign in
Username   Password         Forgot password?
Wanna join? Sign up
Find movies you'll love
Damn Yankees
  • 0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • Rate this movie.

Watch trailer Watch trailer

Rent it, watch it, find it

Advertisement
Synopsis
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, All Movie Guide

Cast

Shannon Bolin Meg
Russ Brown Van Buren
Nathaniel Frey Smokey
Jimmy Komack Rocky
Albert Linville Vernon
Robert Shafer Joe Boyd
Jean Stapleton Sister
Gwen Verdon Lola
Ray Walston Applegate
Tab Hunter Joe Hardy

Production Crew

Stanley Fleischer Art Director
George Abbott Book Author
Bob Fosse Choreography
Pat Ferrier Choreography
Harold Lipstein Cinematographer
Jean Eckart Costume Designer
William Eckart Costume Designer
George Abbott Director
Stanley Donen Director
Frank Bracht Editor
Douglas Wallop Play Author
George Abbott Play Author
George Abbott Producer
Stanley Donen Producer
Jean Eckart Production Designer
William Eckart Production Designer
George Abbott Screenwriter
Year: 1958
Runtime: 110
Country: USA
MPAA Rating:
Category: Feature


Produced by
Warner Brothers

Release
by Warner Brothers

Awards
1958 - Best Picture - Musical - Golden Globe
1958 - Best Picture - Musical - Hollywood Foreign Press Association