Just viewed DAMN YANKEES on DVD for 1st time in years...i saw it first on TV in the late sixties as a young teen. Gwen Verdon made an impact then and still does.
Since all movies become dated and therefore flawed, i won't dwell on how time has affected it. It's still fun! Most of the musical numbers still ring true and i like the fact that everyone does their on singing...you're looking for an emotion to be conveyed (the weakest points of say WEST SIDE STORY are hearing dubbed in voices for Tony and Maria's songs). It's a true musical, i was keeping track of the timer as i watched, there's a song every 8 minutes or so.
All the performances are fine...there are a few points to the Joe Hardy/Boyd character i'll bring up. First, after he disappears...how come he doesn't at least write to his beloved wife...at least let her know he's okay? Secondly...since she's certainly not elderly, and Joe stays as a boarder to be near her, how come he never feels anything romantic for her? it'd been interesting if he had...
It's still breezy, mindless entertainment...fun to watch the Mick take those massive swings in a cameo, great to hear some of the Devil, Mr. Applegate's quips (he's curiously bumbling...we assume that he suffers some for being in human form...and Ray Walston does look like a not to be trusted used car salesman). One reviewer here, wasn't quite sold on Gwen Verdon as a seductress...but as she coyly strips during her WHATEVER LOLA WANTS, LOLA GETS number, the end result, her standing in a black tutu, flashing her glamorous gams...i, for one would be ready to follow her, anywhere.
Since all movies become dated and therefore flawed, i won't dwell on how time has affected it. It's still fun! Most of the musical numbers still ring true and i like the fact that everyone does their on singing...you're looking for an emotion to be conveyed (the weakest points of say WEST SIDE STORY are hearing dubbed in voices for Tony and Maria's songs). It's a true musical, i was keeping track of the timer as i watched, there's a song every 8 minutes or so.
All the performances are fine...there are a few points to the Joe Hardy/Boyd character i'll bring up. First, after he disappears...how come he doesn't at least write to his beloved wife...at least let her know he's okay? Secondly...since she's certainly not elderly, and Joe stays as a boarder to be near her, how come he never feels anything romantic for her? it'd been interesting if he had...
It's still breezy, mindless entertainment...fun to watch the Mick take those massive swings in a cameo, great to hear some of the Devil, Mr. Applegate's quips (he's curiously bumbling...we assume that he suffers some for being in human form...and Ray Walston does look like a not to be trusted used car salesman). One reviewer here, wasn't quite sold on Gwen Verdon as a seductress...but as she coyly strips during her WHATEVER LOLA WANTS, LOLA GETS number, the end result, her standing in a black tutu, flashing her glamorous gams...i, for one would be ready to follow her, anywhere.