Damn Yankees is a frothy, faithful adaptation of the 1956 Broadway hit. In an amusing slant on the Faust legend, aging baseball fan Joe Boyd (Robert Schafer) is given an opportunity to lead his beloved Washington Senators to victory by a devilish gent named Applegate (Ray Walston). Boyd is transformed into handsome young Shoeless Joe Hardy from Hannibal, Mo. (and in the process, the part is taken over by Tab Hunter, whos better than everyone said he was back in 1958). Joe becomes the Senators star player, but at the price of his immortal soul; he isnt terribly worried, however, since hes built an escape clause into his contract with Applegate. To see that Joe doesnt get a chance to exercise that clause, Applegate sends his luscious assistant Lola (Gwen Verdon) to seduce the ballplayer. This effort doesnt work, but Applegate still manages to cause Joe to lose his chance at salvation. But there is still a ray of hope--if Hardy can win the deciding pennant game, hell be able to foil Applegates master plan of causing the Senators to lose. With Lolas aid, Joe gives the devil more than his due. The principal selling angle of Damn Yankees, beyond the presence of Gwen Verdon and Ray Walston delightfully recreating their stage roles, are the wonderful Richard Adler/Jerry Ross songs, including Youve Gotta Have Heart and What Lola Wants, Lola Gets. Based on the novel The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant, the film (like the play before it) unfortunately throws away Wallops wryly ironic climax; as a result, the last scenes appear rushed and haphazard. But why quibble? Damn Yankees is and always was a rock-solid piece of entertainment, as proven by its recent S.R.O. Broadway revival. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide