Damn Yankees

[jeniferrenepatricia]

Posted: 10/19/07 at 12:23am

I wanted to watch the original Broadway version of "Damn Yankees" at Lincoln Center Library. Unfortunately, they only ahve copies of the revivals. The man i spoke to on the phone told me that the movie version with Gwen Verdon is the closest version to the original. True? Would I see almost all of the choreography recreated in the movie and the same songs?

[LoringsGuy]

Posted: 10/19/07 at 12:30am

Fosse did the choreography for the film, so I'm sure it's pretty close to the original production, and most of the songs remain intact, although of course there's always one or two that get axed for the movie version.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/19/07 at 12:32am

Unfortunately, the Lincoln Center didn't start archiving shows until the 1970's, so things like Barbra Streisand in FUNNY GIRL; Ether Merman in GYPSY; Carol Burnett in FADE IN; FADE OUT; Steve & Eydie in GOLDEN RAINBOW; the original Broadway production of WEST SIDE STORY, OKLAHOMA!, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, etc...are lost forever only to survive in their original cast recordings and documented notations written by people who saw the original shows.

As for DAMN YANKEES -- fortunate enough, most of the original Broadway cast appears in the film and though several songs have been left out, it does feature Bob Fosse original choreography. All of it. He also makes an appearance dancing opposite Gwen Verdon in the "Who's Got the Pain?" number -- their first and only time they ever danced in a motion picture/movie together.

Others will be able to talk about the songs left out, etc.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 10/19/07 at 1:39am

Songs not used in the film DAMN YANKEES!:

A Man Doesn't Know (replaced by There's SOomething About an Empty Chair)

The Game

Near To You

The running order has been altered slightly. Also Six Months Out of Ev'ry Year has been shortened.

Still, it is a fairly faithful film adaptation.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 10/19/07 at 1:39am

Who cares about the songs left out?
You actually get to see Gwen Verdon and Bob Fosse dancing together and it is pure magic. Period.
Also, you get to see Verdon doing the whole "Whatever Lola Wants" number as choreographed by Fosse.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/19/07 at 9:22am

The movie sticks fairly close to the Broadway version. I should point out that, although it is great to have Gwen Verdon memorialized in one of her biggest hits, she was one of those stage performaners whose full impact didn't translate well to the screen. (Ethel Merman, Mary Martin, and Carol Channing are others who come to mind). But by all means, get the movie.