Not all musicals are about rom-coms and dreamy ballads; some completely flip the narrative with their storytelling. Such is the case with ‘Damn Yankees,’ which remains a classic for a reason. It is that one classic musical movie that completely shifted an age-old, horrifying legend.
Released in 1958, the movie is widely regarded for its tropes and humorous take on sports obsession. But what it did so marvelously was dial down a disturbing mythological legend. Here’s what the movie did differently from what was originally present in the original demonic myth.
Redemption And Salvation In Damn Yankees
Directed by George Abbott and Stanley Donen, Damn Yankees is a humorous retelling of the Faust legend. It’s the perfect pick for people who have a penchant for musical films.
This film does it all: tickle your funny bones and pander to your eardrums. What it does even better is that it does its own spin on the legend. A legend that is too horrifying to even be narrated in front of the kids. It gives the main character another chance at life when, in reality, that isn’t the case.
The Faust legend talks about Johann Georg Faust, who made a pact with the devil. It was then retold brilliantly by Christopher Marlowe in his play Doctor Faustus. The play was a grandiose setting where the ending was brutal, and the fall was nasty. There was no room for redemption, but here, Joe reunites with his wife.
He tearfully reconciles with her after realizing the series of mistakes he made. It all boiled down to his unhealthy and concerning obsession with the sport. This is also somehow foreshadowed when he pays no heed to Lola’s advances. It shows that he is capable of being salvaged, and thus, he gets his chance at redemption.
He turns back to his old wrinkly self in order to spend the rest of his years with his wife. This is also a mockery of Satan in the movie, as he is reduced to a caricature.
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Satan As A Laughable Caricature
Satan is less sinister and almost laughable in this movie. The Faust legend is where he is conjured as a terrifying creature from the abyss. Here, he is your next-door salesman, though no shade to salarymen, in any case.
He is quirky and eccentric, and, like always, Ray Walston adds to the charm of the character’s persona. Walston added a rather pesky tone to make the character all the more humorous and non-serious.
Contrary to the old legend where Faust is dragged to the depths of hell, Joe is saved. Applegate, who is Satan’s alias in this movie, stomps on the ground. He isn’t the mighty ruler of hell in this scene; he is a tantrum-throwing child.
It is also followed by the character turning his minion, Lola, into an old hag. This is yet another gag on fairy tales that the movie did brilliantly, except it’s a sports comedy movie.
From Joe’s cartoonish gestures to Lola’s Looney Tunes postures, this movie is a reminder of an era gone by. Even the opening segue with the flashing neon colors would take you back to the good old days.
The movie dials down and numbs the disturbing and perturbing myth also through the music. It’s what adds to the liveliness of the entire story, and it masters retelling to this level.
Damn Yankees is a must-watch if you love thrills for sports, eccentricities, music, and a zest for old-fashioned musicals.
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