When you have a film that is as fun and vibrant as The Pajama Game, you are going to want to try to replicate that magic again as soon as possible. Cut to a year later and the world is graced with the second and final collaboration between directors George Abbott and Stanley Donen, Damn Yankees. The 1958 feature film comes from a screenplay by Abbott adapted from his and Douglass Wallop’s book of the 1955 musical of the same name, itself a clever take on the classic Faustian tale. More than a number of musicals, Damn Yankees has a broader appeal simply because it mixes classic musical tropes with America’s pastime, baseball. Musical fans had a reason to cheer, as nearly all of the original stage cast made their way over to the silver screen save for the addition of Tab Hunter in the role of Joe Hardy. Besides the infectious numbers, the standout aspect of this show is Gwen Verdon reprising her role as Lola. Modern audiences may mostly know her name due to Michelle Williams’ portrayal in the FX miniseries Fosse/Verdon, but they would be remiss if they did not check out the genuine article. Thanks to a stellar new Blu-Ray from Warner Archive, they can do so in the best presentation possible.
It can be tough being a sports fan, especially if your loyalties are with a team that cannot ever seem to rise to the occasion. The middle-aged Joe Boyd (Robert Shafer) knows heartbreak as a fan of the Washington Senators baseball team. Joe is not just a fan of baseball, he is positively obsessed to the point that it often causes a minor rift between him and his dear wife, Meg (Shannon Bolin). The Senators have had quite a rough go of it, and the latest loss has sent Joe over the edge to the point that he proclaims he would sell his soul to the devil to see his team beat those “damn Yankees.” The lesson is always be careful what you wish for as the Devil himself, here known as Applegate (Ray Walston, Popeye), appears to offer an even sweeter deal; Joe will not only see his team victorious, but he will have his youth restored so he can lead them to win the pennant. Joe hesitantly accepts, but he does put his skills as a lawyer to good use and convinces a very eager Applegate to implement an escape clause that would allow Joe a chance to change his mind anytime before the last game of the season.
A pleasing Tab Hunter takes over the role of young Joe, who adopts the moniker of Joe Hardy. Joe really shakes things up when he comes out of nowhere with his new, staggering talent for the game that earns him a place on the team and elevates the talent of all of his teammates. While almost everyone is excited about this mysterious new talent, sports writer Gloria Thorpe (Rae Allen, A League of Their Own) cannot shake the feeling that something is off with our dear Joe. She is a bit of a pain for ole Applegate, but what vexes him even more is Joe’s longing to be reunited with Meg after he clinches the pennant. This is simply unacceptable to Applegate, so he calls in reinforcements to help keep Joe’s mind off of sentimental notions. The Devil knows better than anyone that lust can take down even the strongest of men, and the seductress Lola (Gwen Verdon) is an expert at getting what she wants. Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets… Will Joe will hold firm in his resolve to return to his old life with his wife, or will Applegate win out with one of his tricks to keep Joe’s soul? The answer may be obvious, but the film is a blast getting to it.
Those who are not traditionally fans of musicals will have a clever tale of devilish bargaining and baseball to latch onto, but even they might be hard-pressed to resist the many dazzling numbers throughout the production. Even less obvious crowd pleasers such as the dementedly wistful “Those Were The Good Old Days” and the kinetic “Shoeless Joe From Hannibal, Mo” offer a great deal to enjoy. If we are being honest, though, the numbers with Lola truly make the film. From the initial boasting of “A Little Brains, A Little Talent” to the iconically seductive “Whatever Lola Wants,” Gwen Verdon sets the screen ablaze at every turn. The cinematic gods have to be thanked for convincing the studio not to replace her with a “bigger name” because she is truly terrific in this role. As is this entire cast made up almost entirely of the original Broadway performers. These gifted individuals know these characters inside and out, which is an invaluable thing when attempting to construct a propulsive musical. Damn Yankees does a truly amazing job of translating the energy of the stage to the big screen. Even those who claim to be allergic to musicals are likely to find quite a bit to love here.
Video Quality
Warner Archive presents Damn Yankees with a marvelous new 1080p master transfer in 1.85:1 sourced from a 4K scan of the preservation separation masters. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Warner Archive has knocked it out of the park once again. The film is practically pristine with no noticeable instances of damage or dirt detected here. The black levels are incredibly deep with perfect stability throughout. The level of stark detail and clarity is stunning with a lovely amount of natural film grain intact. The film features some luscious colors within the costumes and settings, including Lola’s scintillating boudoir, that pop off the screen with a great vibrancy. Compression artifacts, banding and other such issues do not serve as an issue in this transfer. This presentation earns Warner Archive top marks!
Audio Quality
Warner Archive has teed up a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio presentation that pulls out all of the stops. Dialogue comes through perfectly clear from beginning to end without ever being overshadowed by competing elements. Every element seems to present with a nice fidelity, as all sounds are clearly defined and in balance. Music pulses throughout nearly every moment of this feature, and this track handles it beautifully with nothing ever sounding crunchy or unstable. These tunes have never sounded better than on this disc. This is a track that mercifully does not exhibit any signs of age-related wear-and-tear. Warner Archive has allowed this film to sound the best it ever has on home entertainment. The disc comes with optional English (SDH) subtitles.
Special Features
- Theatrical Trailer: A two-and-a-half-minute trailer that plays up the musical numbers and the acclaim of the long-running show.
- UK Theatrical Trailer: Almost exactly the same trailer as the US one, except the film was titled What Lola Wants in the UK.
Final Thoughts
Damn Yankees is a clever and bouncy musical that has much to offer fans of musicals and non-fans alike. The decision to keep the majority of the Broadway cast is one that pays off in spades, especially when it comes to the electric performance from Gwen Verdon. Warner Archive has released a new Blu-Ray with an unbelievable A/V presentation, but not too much in the way of special features. Regardless, this is a delight from start to finish that will make a great addition to any collection. Recommended
Damn Yankees can be purchased directly through Warner Archive or various other online retailers. The Blu-Ray will be available to purchase on March 16, 2021.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
