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Baseball has always prided itself on a certain, almost preternatural, mythology, and perhaps it's necessary sometimes to cast a knowing smile in the direction of legends. Case in point: Ernest Thayer's "Casey at the Bat." Case in point two: George Abbott's hit Broadway musical Damn Yankees, which made the leap to film in this 1958 production. The woeful Washington Senators have been mired in last place for longer than anyone can remember and there seems little hope of ever overtaking the hated Yankees. Until, that is, a mysterious slugger named Joe Hardy (Tab Hunter) shows up along with his "manager," Mr. Applegate, and starts swatting 600-foot home runs. Suddenly we have a pennant race on our hands. But who is this guy who hits like Babe Ruth, runs like Ty Cobb, fields like Pie Traynor, and looks remarkably like a young Mickey Mantle? That is the devilish detail on which this marvelous tale spins. Hunter is a fine Joe Hardy, but what makes this film virtually jump off the screen is the slyly witty performance of Ray Walston as Applegate, the man who makes his living collecting souls, and the incredibly sexy Gwen Verdon as the temptress, Lola. The dance numbers, choreographed by Bob Fosse, are hypnotic and although much of the score is rather hum-drum, this is more than made up for by the rousing renditions of "You Gotta Have Heart," and the steamy, unforgettable, "Whatever Lola Wants." Charles Salzberg

All Movie Guide

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

Product Details

• UPC: 085393197025
• Source: WARNER HOME VIDEO
• Region Code: 1
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Editions: Subtitled
• Time: 1:51:00
• Sales Rank: 1,970

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