Damn Yankees
1958
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Damn! They did it again! Arghhhhh!
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Damn Yankees is a 1958 musical film made by Warner Bros., a modern version of the Faust legend set in 1950 involving the New York Yankees baseball team. The film is based on the 1955 Broadway musical of the same name.
The film version was directed by George Abbott, as he did the earlier stage version, with assistance from Stanley Donen. With the exception of Tab Hunter in the role of Joe Hardy (replacing Stephen Douglass), the Broadway principals reprised their stage roles. The film is very similar to the stage version. A notable difference between film and stage versions, however, was Gwen Verdon's performance of the song, “A Little Brains”. For the film version, Verdon’s suggestive hip-movements (as choreographed by Bob Fosse and performed on stage) were considered too risqué for a mainstream American film in 1958, and so, in the film, she simply pauses at these points. Similarly, the film was released in the United Kingdom under the title What Lola Wants, to avoid use of the word "Damn" on posters, hoardings and cinema marquees.
The film version was directed by George Abbott, as he did the earlier stage version, with assistance from Stanley Donen. With the exception of Tab Hunter in the role of Joe Hardy (replacing Stephen Douglass), the Broadway principals reprised their stage roles. The film is very similar to the stage version. A notable difference between film and stage versions, however, was Gwen Verdon's performance of the song, “A Little Brains”. For the film version, Verdon’s suggestive hip-movements (as choreographed by Bob Fosse and performed on stage) were considered too risqué for a mainstream American film in 1958, and so, in the film, she simply pauses at these points. Similarly, the film was released in the United Kingdom under the title What Lola Wants, to avoid use of the word "Damn" on posters, hoardings and cinema marquees.
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Plot synopsis
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Joe Boyd, a middle-aged fan of the ill-fated Washington Senators baseball team, wishes he could help them out. His wishes suddenly come true when "Mr. Applegate" magically appears, and offers to turn old Joe into a young baseball slugger "Joe Hardy", with the catch that he must give his soul to Applegate and leave his beloved wife Meg. Joe agrees, but with an escape clause: by a certain time he can renounce the deal and return to his wife and former life.
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As young Joe becomes a star on the Washington Senators, he misses his wife and wants to return. Applegate has "Lola", another of his "Lost Souls", seduce Joe and convince him to stay with Applegate ("Whatever Lola Wants"). Joe misses the deadline and appears to be lost forever, but Lola helps him. He both helps the Senators beat the New York Yankees and break the spell and return home.
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Joe Boyd, a middle-aged fan of the ill-fated Washington Senators baseball team, wishes he could help them out. His wishes suddenly come true when "Mr. Applegate" magically appears, and offers to turn old Joe into a young baseball slugger "Joe Hardy", with the catch that he must give his soul to Applegate and leave his beloved wife Meg. Joe agrees, but with an escape clause: by a certain time he can renounce the deal and return to his wife and former life.
-
As young Joe becomes a star on the Washington Senators, he misses his wife and wants to return. Applegate has "Lola", another of his "Lost Souls", seduce Joe and convince him to stay with Applegate ("Whatever Lola Wants"). Joe misses the deadline and appears to be lost forever, but Lola helps him. He both helps the Senators beat the New York Yankees and break the spell and return home.
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1 comments:
I goes to show you money can buy you the world series!
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