The show is dated, but the score does have three ageless gems, "You've Gotta Have Heart" and "Those Were the Good Old Days" in addition to "Whatever Lola Wants".Penelope wrote:I just tonight watched the 1958 film version of Damn Yankees; cinematically, it's so-so--the dance numbers, choreographed by Bob Fosse, are marvelously filmed, and it's nice to have a record of Ray Walston and Gwen Verdon's stage triumphs (and even Tab Hunter is pretty good)--but as a legendary musical...well, I'm kind of meh. "Whatever Lola Wants" is justifiably a classic (though, admittedly, I prefer Sarah Vaughan's more sultry version), but the rest of the songs are pretty much forgettable...and the setting is VERY dated (of course, my intense hatred for baseball probably colors my perception). So, why do another screen version of this when there are any number of better musicals that deserve a better screen version (I'd love to see a full scale version of Show Boat, for example) or musicals that have never been filmed (Chess would be my top choice). I just don't see how another film version would offer anything new or even appeal to modern audiences.
A remake could work in one of two ways. One would be as a period piece but why bother when we have the 1958 film? The other would be to throw the story on its ears, and have the slugger long to become a Yankee instead of a Washington Senator, wanting to bring the Yankees out of their slump. In that case, however, most of the other songs would have to be re-written or replaced. "Goodbye Old Girl", "A Man Doesn't Know" and "Near to You" are too corny and sentimental for the times. "Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo." has no place in today's sophisticated world and "The Game" once considered risque is now positively quaint.
The more I think about about the more I think it's doomed to failure.
In the meantime, what's happening with the long planned film versions of Follies and Sunset Boulevard?