Damn Yankees

Once upon a time, Broadway musicals were quickly adapted into successful widescreen presentations, often, but not always, with the original Broadway stars. This is an example of one of Hollywood's best.
A previous reviewer called this stagebound. I am not sure what was meant. "My Fair Lady" and "Mary Poppins" are musicals shot entirely on soundstages, and look it; "Damn Yankees!" involved several outside locations, including the old Los Angeles Wrigley Field, which was home to the Los Angeles Angels in their first season in 1961. It was a great backdrop for the "Shoeless Joe" number.
The film is not in stereo (even though the CD soundtrack is); I don't know if the stereo soundtrack album would matchup with the film soundtrack, or whether there stereo tracks recorded. In any event, Warner Bros. did not dig them out, and this DVD is bereft of any significant extras.
Apart from that, this is a must buy for classic performances (Ray Walston and Gwen Verdon, particularly), wonderful songs ((You Gotta Have) Heart, Shoeless Joe, etc.), and some great smaller roles (the crusty Senators' manager, Jean Stapleton playing Edith Bunker 15 years before she played Edith Bunker, and Bob Fosse dancing with Gwen Verdon).

Gwen Verdon at her finest. Great performances by an amazing cast. Great music and incredible choregraphy. Gwen Verdon and Bob Fosse - such a team.

The audio/video quality of the original movie is not quite up to modern picture and sound standards, and the original play and movie we indelibly tied to the 50's scene ("Cool, man"), but the transition to DVD has not hurt it a bit. The songs and dancing are very stylized, definitely reflecting Donen's handicraft. Seeing the actors when they were almost kids is very interesting. I definitely enjoyed it.

Awsome. But what the heck. The devil looked like crap. I saw it on stage in Louisville, Kentucky. It was ten times better. ESP!! THE DEVIL! But it was still a excellent movie without the devil. If you like this movie also watch Phantom of the Opera, Cats, RENT, Evita, and Joseph and t he Amazing Techinolor Dream Coat.

This classic show was skillfully brought to film and the casting is great. Gwen Verdon is fabulous as Lola and Ray Walston as the Devil is superb. Well worth having for collectors of American Musical Theater.