7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 2.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A frustrated fan of the hopeless Washington Senators makes a pact with the Devil to help the baseball team win the league pennant. Based on the hit Broadway musical.
Starring: Tab Hunter, Gwen Verdon, Ray Walston, Russ Brown, Shannon BolinMusical | 100% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Sport | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Not to be confused with one of your stepdad's favorite rock supergroups, George Abbott and Stanley Donen's Damn Yankees is a terrific big-screen adaptation of the long-running Broadway show with songs by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, not to mention almost all of the principal players returning to reprise their memorable roles. Just one of a few examples of a genuine "sports musical", Damn Yankees is probably the best in that narrow genre by a pretty wide margin and features a fun story about love, loss, temptation, eternal youth, peanuts, and Cracker Jacks.
What fun Damn Yankees has with its premise, cherry-picking most of the Broadway musical's iconic songs and best moments to deliver a lively, enjoyable film from start to finish. The best example of both arrives with seductive Lola (Gwen Verdon), Applegate's mistress who uses her slithering dance moves -- wonderfully choreographed by her future husband Bob Fosse, who performs with her during one scene -- to tempt Joe Hardy while he still pines for the faithful Meg. But Damn Yankees is more than "Whatever Lola Wants"... even if that infamous scene was used as the original poster art and the renamed title for UK audiences, who apparently couldn't handle the word "damn." It's simply a fun story adapted almost perfectly for the big screen, featuring rock-solid performances by actors already familiar with the material and almost obscenely colorful visuals during key moments. Yours truly couldn't care less about pro baseball -- outside of the breakdowns by Jomboy Media, maybe -- and I still had an absolute blast with this one. Even the usually stiff-as-a-board Tab Hunter, perfectly cast as blank slate Joe Hardy, finally loosens up in the home stretch.
Although it lacks a bottom-of-the-ninth grand slam ending, Damn Yankees is still a rich and vibrant show that'll impress first-time viewers
and those who haven't seen it in decades. Its last home video outing was a Warner Bros. DVD release from 2004 that served up a decent
anamorphic transfer but almost nothing in the way of extras. Warner Archive's new Blu-ray doesn't add much new content but
does sport one of the studio's best transfers to date, a 4K-sourced beauty that really shows off Damn Yankees' impressive
production design. It's a solid triple, easy.
Is anyone tired of Warner Archive's near-endless string of five-star video ratings? Me neither. Damn Yankees is yet another check in the win column, as this 4K-sourced transfer -- reportedly culled from preservation separation masters -- offers vibrant colors that suitably shows off the film's terrific lighting and color schemes from the opening credits onward. No hue is left unrepresented here, from the bright pinks and purples of Lola's boudoir to Applegate's red socks and even those gauzy, almost neon-infused highlights during the third-act nightclub performance of "Two Lost Souls". Daytime scenes at the ballpark are another easy standout, with bright sunlit visuals punctuated by team uniforms and other primaries, not to mention the cool blue shadows cast by stadium walls. Skin tones are accurate -- even on Tab Hunter, who forgivably turns beet-red as Lola writhes her way around the locker room -- with a look far surpassing the DVD's harsher, oversaturated color values. Image detail and textures are also very impressive, bolstered by Warner Archive's careful treatment of natural film grain and commitment to other purist-friendly textures.
Simply put, it's more top-tier work and every bit as good as their treatment of other recent musical releases such as Good News, San Francisco, The Pajama Game, Show Boat, and a few that have yet to be reviewed. Warner Archive has uploaded a few YouTube videos showing off Damn Yankees' new transfer, including the extremely colorful three-minute opening sequence, that fateful deal between Joe and Applegate, and the US theatrical trailer.
Although its audio is presented in DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio Mono -- very odd, since Warner Bros. had been releasing films in stereo for years by 1958, and the soundtrack album was also recorded in stereo -- this split one-channel track at least does an admirable job within format limitations. Dialogue is always perfectly clean and clear, with only a few stray moments of questionable lip sync spoiling the illusion of a true live performance. The numerous song breaks are well-balanced and even achieve moments of depth, exhibiting a relatively dynamic presence that conveys plenty of energy. I'd have loved to see Warner Archive pull a rabbit out of their hat like they did with Show Boat's stereo option, but this is still a very good effort that's still likely its best audio presentation since theaters.
Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during the main feature and song selections only.
This Blu-ray ships in a keepcase with original one-sheet poster art and extras not listed on the packaging.
George Abbott and Stanley Donen's Damn Yankees is an enormously fun and free-wheeling sports musical that remains one of the best big-screen Broadway adaptations to date. Many of its key performers were brought over from the original show and it's clear they had all kinds of fun with this one, as it boasts an infectious energy that makes Damn Yankees a pretty potent gateway drug for non-fans of the genre. Warner Archive's outstanding Blu-ray delivers the goods with another top-tier transfer and, though the bonus features sadly come up short, it easily survives based on the lasting appeal of the main feature alone. Highly Recommended to die-hard fans and rookies alike!
1963
Warner Archive Collection
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Stephen Sondheim's Company
2007
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Warner Archive Collection
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Limited Edition to 3000
1967
Warner Archive Collection
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Warner Archive Collection
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Warner Archive Collection
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Warner Archive Collection
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