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Damn Yankees

Screening on Film
Directed by Stanley Donen and George Abbott.
With Tab Hunter, Gwen Verdon, Ray Walston.
US, 1958, 35mm, color, 110 min.
Print source: Academy Film Archive

Reteaming most of the creative forces behind the previous year’s success story, The Pajama GameDamn Yankees once again pairs Donen with his former Broadway mentor, George Abbott. Joining them was much of the original Broadway cast – with the addition of teen heartthrob Tab Hunter in the lead as a baseball fanatic who makes a Faustian deal with the Devil to become the star hitter for his beloved Washington Senators. As the Devil’s handmaiden, Gwen Verdon steals the show with her Bob Fosse choreographed number “Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets” while Ray Walston is delightfully sly: the Devil as dealmaker. Donen’s last musical until he returned to the form with The Little Prince in 1974, Damn Yankees showcases a director at the top of his game.

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