Damn Yankees

A musical built around baseball. Joe is middle-aged, married and hopelessly attached to his team. The Washington Senators lose every year and the New York Yankees take the title. One evening in his armchair Joe says he would give anything for his team. A man appears in the room and accepts. The deal: Joe will become a young player and carry the team to the top. In return, his soul. There is also an escape clause, and the devil does not want it used. That is why Lola is brought in. Her job is to seduce Joe. The film's best-known song comes from that scene and is built on the line that Lola gets whatever she wants. The production was staged on Broadway first and most of the cast carried over from the stage. Gwen Verdon plays Lola and Ray Walston the devil. The choreography is Bob Fosse's, and Fosse dances with Verdon in one number. Stanley Donen and George Abbott directed. An enjoyable production for anyone who likes classical Hollywood musicals and stage-bred comedy. For a viewer expecting a realistic sports film, the story is entirely fantastical and the games are transitions.