Damn Yankees poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Tab Hunter, Gwen Verdon, Ray Walston, Russ Brown, Shannon Bolin ... see more see more... , Nathaniel Frey , Jimmy Komack , Robert Shafer , Jean Stapleton , Albert Linville , Rae Allen , Phil Arnold , Elizabeth Howell , Bob Fosse

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 belo... read more read more...ved 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

Flixster Users

60% liked it

2,685 ratings

Critics

79% liked it

14 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Bob Fosse, George Abbott, Gwen Verdon, James Komack, Jean Stapleton, Rae Allen, Ray Walston, Russ Brown, Shannon Bolin, Stanley Donen, Tab Hunter

Release Date: September 26, 1958

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: October 12, 2004

Get It:

Stats: 110 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Damn Yankees! (1958) Damn Yankees Damn Yankees! (1958) Damn Yankees! (1967) (TV) Benny VanBuren Damn Yankees Damn Yankees Damn Yankees Damn Yankees Damn Yankees Damn Yankees Damn Yankees Damn Yankees
Upload a Photo | View All Damn Yankees Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (110)

  • jjnxn
    April 18, 2010
    jjnxn
    Overbright, overdone version of the stage play. The upcoming remake can only be an improvement.
  • gator681
    June 4, 2005
    gator681
    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=Centu... read morery 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]
  • fb900160205
    January 28, 2012
    fb900160205
    Watching this film was parental sacrifice. But if the boy wants to audition for a role, who are we to say no?
  • placeinthesun455
    June 3, 2009
    placeinthesun455
    well...it was better than Pajama Game, but only a little. the acting was better and the characters are actually kind of interesting. the songs were nothing wonderful, and the dancing was pretty average (Verdon & Fosse's number was, however, pretty decent). I'm still a little s... read morehaky on the story (underdog sports movie and musical aren't really the most compatible genres), but otherwise this was a pretty entertaining film.
  • littlelittle
    March 2, 2007
    littlelittle
    Bob Fosse choreography and with his wife the great Gwen Verdon - Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets. Look for Fosse himself in one of the dance numbers. Delicious movie.
  • marfaymetz
    August 12, 2006
    marfaymetz
    Selling your soul just to beat the yankees? hmmm...a little far fetched, but entertaining nonetheless.

View All Damn Yankees Reviews

Critic Reviews

March 16, 2011
TIME Magazine

As a cinemusical, Yankees manages to steal home by a wide margin. Full Review

Variety Staff
March 26, 2009
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. Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 10, 2004
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. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
May 20, 2003
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Miss Verdon has the sort of fine, fresh talent that the screen badly needs these days. Full Review

March 16, 2011
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Terrific, Oscar-nominated score by Jerry Ross and Richard Adler is electric. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
April 28, 2007
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. Full Review

Tom Milne
January 26, 2006
Tom Milne, Time Out

A musical lumbered with too much plot. Full Review

Scott Weinberg
April 3, 2005
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
January 14, 2005
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. Full Review

Pete Croatto
October 31, 2004
Pete Croatto, Filmcritic.com

hasn't aged very well Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

This list looks lonely.
Add a suggestion!

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Damn Yankees : Watch Free on TV

Damn Yankees Trivia

  • What is the devils name in "Damn Yankees"?  Answer »
  • Name that Actress! Shes been in such films as... Damn Yankees Cocoon Marvins Room Walking Across Egypt  Answer »
  • In the movie of the musical Damn Yankees! which actress performs a sizzling little number called, Whatever Lola Wants?  Answer »
  • In "Damn Yankees," (1958) Gwen Verdon performed a duet with a famous male dancer who appeared in a brief cameo. Who was he?  Answer »
More Damn Yankees Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Damn Yankees. Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add Damn Yankees to favorites

Recent News

Submit a Story |

View Damn Yankees News

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?