Devilishly Good Fun

[TheRobF]

Our mini Bob Fosse Festival concludes with Damn Yankees.
(Fun fact: In the UK, the movie’s title was changed to What Lola Wants to protect its citizens from seeing the word “Damn” displayed on lobby posters, billboards and theater marquees.)

Throughout the film, Fosse’s trademark choreographic style (Hands! Hips! Hats!) is on full display: his mime-like hand articulations; the sexually-suggestive forward hip-thrusts; the vaudevillian humor of hunched shoulders and turned-in feet; the gloves and hats; the pratfalls, the slights-of-hand, the double takes.

This “oldie-but-goodie” is one of David Spencer’s “must-see musicals.” Starring broadway superstar Gwen Verdon at her slinkiest (alongside heartthrob Tab Hunter at his hunkiest), Damn Yankees features a show-stopping performance by the master-choreographer himself, Bob Fosse.



For a video preview of this week’s show, click here.

[roberb7]

The cast also includes Ray Walston, who later became famous as "My Favorite Martian." And it was the first film role for Jean Stapleton, who was later Edith in "All In the Family."