DAMN YANKEES
($20) is an enjoyable movie adaptation of the popular
Broadway musical about a baseball fan who sells his soul to the devil for
a chance to help his team win the pennant. Retaining much of the original
Broadway cast (including Gwen Verdon and Ray Walston, the movie version of
DAMN YANKEES also benefits from the spirited choreography Bob
Fosse. The plot of DAMN YANKEES tells the story of middle-aged
Washington Senators fan Joe Boyd (Robert Shafer) whose offer to sell his
soul for a winning team, catches the attention of one Mr. Applegate
(Walston). What Applegate offer Joe, is a deal that will turn him into a
phenomenal twenty two year old baseball player, whom our devilish friend
dubs Joe Hardy (Tab Hunter).
Despite
his love for baseball and the Senators, Joe only accepts the deal with the
proviso of an escape clause, which Applegate reluctantly agrees to.
Although Joe becomes the young baseball hero that elevates the Senators
out of the basement, he is still a middle-aged man at heart, who longs for
his wife and home. Seeing that he might lose Joe to the escape clause,
Applegate summons up a demonic temptress named Lola (Gwen Verdon) to make
sure he retains his newly contracted property. DAMN YANKEES classic score features such numbers as Heart, A Little
Brains-A Little Talent, Whatever Lola Wants and Two
Lost Souls. The cast of DAMN YANKEES also features Russ
Brown, Shannon Bolin, Nathaniel Frey, James Komack, Rae Allen, Jean
Stapleton and Albert Linville.
Warner
Home Video has made DAMN YANKEES available on DVD in a 1.78:1 wide
screen presentation that has been enhanced for playback on 16:9 displays.
Once again, Warner steps up to the plate and delivers a really nice
transfer of a classic movie. The image is generally sharp, although all of
the film’s opticals come across a wee bit softer. Color reproduction
appears quite good, with some vibrant hues that give a good impression of
what an original IB Technicolor print might have looked like. Blacks are
inky, whites are crisp and contrast is smooth. The film elements used for
the transfer rarely show signs of age and have fairly consistent
appearance. There is some mild grain here and there, but nothing one will
find distracting or bothersome. Digital compression artifacts are always
well contained.
DAMN YANKEES
comes with a perfectly fine and reasonably pleasant sounding
Dolby Digital monaural soundtrack. Fidelity lacks the "va va voom"
of today’s tracks, but for a film released in 1958, it still manages to
hit the songs out of the park. There is no harshness or tinny qualities to
any of the musical numbers, in fact, it all sounds fairly smooth.
Additionally, the vocals always come across with a genuine sense of
presence. Most signs of background hiss and noise have been cleaned up in
the mastering process, leaving one with an enjoyable listening experience.
Dialogue is crisply rendered and remains totally understandable. No other
language tracks are provided, but English, French and Spanish subtitles
have been included. Music underscores the basic interactive menus, which
allow one access to the standard scene selection and set up features, as
well as a theatrical trailer.
DAMN YANKEES
is totally enjoyable movie musical fun that has been given a
fine presentation by Warner Home Video. If you are a fan or movie musical
buff, the DVD is something you’ll want to add to your library.
DAMN YANKEES
($20) is an enjoyable movie adaptation of the popular
Broadway musical about a baseball fan who sells his soul to the devil for
a chance to help his team win the pennant. Retaining much of the original
Broadway cast (including Gwen Verdon and Ray Walston, the movie version of
DAMN YANKEES also benefits from the spirited choreography Bob
Fosse. The plot of DAMN YANKEES tells the story of middle-aged
Washington Senators fan Joe Boyd (Robert Shafer) whose offer to sell his
soul for a winning team, catches the attention of one Mr. Applegate
(Walston). What Applegate offer Joe, is a deal that will turn him into a
phenomenal twenty two year old baseball player, whom our devilish friend
dubs Joe Hardy (Tab Hunter).
Despite
his love for baseball and the Senators, Joe only accepts the deal with the
proviso of an escape clause, which Applegate reluctantly agrees to.
Although Joe becomes the young baseball hero that elevates the Senators
out of the basement, he is still a middle-aged man at heart, who longs for
his wife and home. Seeing that he might lose Joe to the escape clause,
Applegate summons up a demonic temptress named Lola (Gwen Verdon) to make
sure he retains his newly contracted property. DAMN YANKEES classic score features such numbers as Heart, A Little
Brains-A Little Talent, Whatever Lola Wants and Two
Lost Souls. The cast of DAMN YANKEES also features Russ
Brown, Shannon Bolin, Nathaniel Frey, James Komack, Rae Allen, Jean
Stapleton and Albert Linville.
Warner
Home Video has made DAMN YANKEES available on DVD in a 1.78:1 wide
screen presentation that has been enhanced for playback on 16:9 displays.
Once again, Warner steps up to the plate and delivers a really nice
transfer of a classic movie. The image is generally sharp, although all of
the film’s opticals come across a wee bit softer. Color reproduction
appears quite good, with some vibrant hues that give a good impression of
what an original IB Technicolor print might have looked like. Blacks are
inky, whites are crisp and contrast is smooth. The film elements used for
the transfer rarely show signs of age and have fairly consistent
appearance. There is some mild grain here and there, but nothing one will
find distracting or bothersome. Digital compression artifacts are always
well contained.
DAMN YANKEES
comes with a perfectly fine and reasonably pleasant sounding
Dolby Digital monaural soundtrack. Fidelity lacks the "va va voom"
of today’s tracks, but for a film released in 1958, it still manages to
hit the songs out of the park. There is no harshness or tinny qualities to
any of the musical numbers, in fact, it all sounds fairly smooth.
Additionally, the vocals always come across with a genuine sense of
presence. Most signs of background hiss and noise have been cleaned up in
the mastering process, leaving one with an enjoyable listening experience.
Dialogue is crisply rendered and remains totally understandable. No other
language tracks are provided, but English, French and Spanish subtitles
have been included. Music underscores the basic interactive menus, which
allow one access to the standard scene selection and set up features, as
well as a theatrical trailer.
DAMN YANKEES
is totally enjoyable movie musical fun that has been given a
fine presentation by Warner Home Video. If you are a fan or movie musical
buff, the DVD is something you’ll want to add to your library.
