Damn Yankees (1958)

79% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
60% of users liked it
(2,667 ratings)

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… More 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, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: Bob Fosse, George Abbott
Genres: Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 26, 1958 Wide
On DVD: Oct 12, 2004
Studio: Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

, TIME Magazine
As a cinemusical, Yankees manages to steal home by a wide margin.
Variety Staff, Variety
The Damn Yankees team, which ran the score high for three seasons in Broadway's legit ballpark, was reassembled to go to bat in this sparkling film version.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Not the equal of Stanley Donen's parallel project, The Pajama Game, but a fine and vigorous film of the Broadway musical nonetheless.
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Miss Verdon has the sort of fine, fresh talent that the screen badly needs these days.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Terrific, Oscar-nominated score by Jerry Ross and Richard Adler is electric.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
This version of the Broadway hit offers a rare opportunity to see most of the stage performers recreating their roles, plus an early glimpse of the genius of Bob Fosse.
Tom Milne, Time Out
A musical lumbered with too much plot.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
One of the better big-budget music-fests ... mainly because it has the devil and some baseball in it.
Matt Bailey, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
While watching Damn Yankees offers many pleasures, none compare to the spectacle of Tab Hunter in the prime of his beauty.
Pete Croatto, Filmcritic.com
hasn't aged very well
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The songs are still engaging, the dance numbers are energetic, the characters are fun, and the story line is pleasingly familiar.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The movie's got a team-load of spunk and spirit that go a long way toward entertaining an audience.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Hard to watch, TV-looking filmed stage play with some good songs and Ray Walston.
, Film4
It might be one of the more implausible spins on the old legend, but it's certainly one of the most entertaining.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Overbright, overdone version of the stage play. The upcoming remake can only be an improvement.
Walter M

Hi, my name is Walter and I hate the New York Yankees. [i]Hi Walter![/i] [i][color=red]Go back to Boston, you bum![/color][/i] [i][color=#ff0000][/color][/i] [color=black]Actually, I'm a Mets fan...but more on that later...[/color] [font=Century Gothic][/font]… More
Hi, my name is Walter and I hate the New York Yankees. [i]Hi Walter![/i] [i][color=red]Go back to Boston, you bum![/color][/i] [i][color=#ff0000][/color][/i] [color=black]Actually, I'm a Mets fan...but more on that later...[/color] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Damn Yankees" is a musical about a middle-aged fan named Joe who roots for his beloved Washington Senators every day during the baseball season much to the consternation of his loyal wife. He is frustrated by their lack of success until the devil(a very liverly Ray Walston) makes him an offer to turn him into the best baseball player ever, so he could help his favorite baseball team beat the hated Yankees.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]I was entertained by "Damn Yankees"(otherwise known as the "Barry Bonds Story") but I was surprised that it had more to do with an old-fashioned view of marriage(and avoiding the temptations that could lead a husband down the wrong path) than it was about baseball. That having been said, the character of the female sports writer was definitely ahead of the time. Oh and I could not quite buy Gwen Verdon as the all-time seductress but she sure could dance.[/font][font=Century Gothic] [/font] [color=blue]Oh and the Mets won today 5-1.[/color]

Cast

Tab Hunter
as Joe Hardy
Gwen Verdon
as Lola
Ray Walston
as Applegate

Russ Brown
as Van Buren
Shannon Bolin
as Meg
Nathaniel Frey
as Smokey

See full cast

Damn Yankees (1958)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Walter M

Cast

Trailers & Clips