The MoFo Musical Countdown - Group Watch

Damn Yankees: This was a rough one for me. The characters and themes had no appeal. The musical numbers were very bland, it’s unfortunate, but I really don’t have anything to note besides that. Maybe someone else will have something that can jostle a conversation.

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Letterboxd

Bummer you didn't like it more because I had considered choosing it with you in mind as I believe you are a sports fan? I only seen it once like 15 years ago. I do remember thinking I wouldn't like it as I'm not a sports fan and yet I did, though that's all I remember. I'm curious as to what my reaction will be on this one.

I’m a sports fan. I honestly think it might be a hinderance in this case. Probably makes it even sillier. I have Take Me Out To The Ballgame down to watch as well. Have you seen that one?

Just to give my quick thoughts on Sweet Charity - It's something of an echo of the other sentiments already expressed. I watched it as mixture of preparation for the countdown about a month ago, partially to watch a Fosse blindspot (in contrast with his musicals more well known as being successful), and because it was on the criterion channel (and it might have been leaving?). But the opening half was a lot more interesting than the second half (I put the demarcation at the night club). I think I'd characterize the drop-off as part of my long-running theory on musicals and why I don't take to them - they're often movies that without the singing and dancing that would be characterized as romantic comedies and with some exceptions, I don't really like romantic comedies either (trying to unpack why those don't appeal to me is more difficult). The latter half of Sweet Charity kind of starts to resemble the general vibe and tone of such movies. Singing about being excited about all the little things at the Italian actor's condo just hit the, "I don't care about this." Somehow the analogous scenes are just fine in Cabiria, but here it just overstays its welcome and I recall it just feeling too sunny and bright.

Hey Big Spender, is probably the catchiest number. The night club scene is a weird take on the weird, Italian night life that shows up in a number of Fellini films (which I guess means, it kind of works and is the correct take). It reminds me of a film programmer's introduction to Satyricon once: Fellini gave the space for the Romans to be weird and be themselves.

It should be noted the earlier segments seem to come more directly from Cabiria and the latter half, the film starts deviating, though the afore-mentioned song sequence did come from a scene in Cabiria, so maybe that was just the direction the creative instincts were heading towards on this one regardless. One other thought, it's been a month since I've seen Sweet Charity, but I recall the less interesting half being set more in daylight hours. Is that incorrect? Asking because, Nights of Cabiria is called Nights of Cabiria, and while the early attempted murder scene is in broad daylight, the movie, both being in black and white and I think taking place more at night, just has a darker tone in terms of visual palette, I can't help but wonder if that altered the perceived tone of the movie.

So, overall, a mixed bag of a movie, but I don't know if I'll be able to name 25 movie musicals I liked more than it, so it's possible it ends up making my ballot.

I've seen Take Me Out To The Ballgame but once again so long ago that does it even count as a watch? I seem to say that alot!

One observation I've had over my lifetime of reading/listening to movie reviews, whenever a movie critic says, "I liked x-movie in spite of not being a sports fan, mathematician, etc," it usually is in reference to a movie that people who are into those things end up not liking at all, and being more knowledgeable about the subject usually hurts. That's just been my observation. Your experience may vary.

That could be true and might be true for me as I've never watched an actual sports game on TV. I do believe that GBG who chose the movie is a big fan of baseball, it will be interesting to read her review of Damn Yankees and see what aspect of the film she enjoys the most.

Literally never? This blows my mind. In my world it feels like the equivalent of saying I have never watched an episode of TV, or heard music.

Yup never unless you count the one time in jr high I watched a Rams game because I wanted to know what it was like..Or the time a girl took me to see the Seahawks in Seattle of course, that was an interesting night but not because of the game.

Those definitely count, but that little is certainly rare in our culture. My sister despises sports and she has probably seen 100s. Of course, my teen years mat be responsible for a lot of her seeing…and hating.

I use to watch the Olympics both summer and winter games back when I had some TV service. But those aren't team sports, except basketball which I didn't watch.

Next time I come to Seattle you should let me take you to a Mariners game. Every American male should go to one baseball game in his life.

The one cool thing about the Seahawks game was that I kept trying to start the 'wave' which had originated in Seattle. I tried several times and the 'wave' would only go about dozen people down and then die out. So I figured I needed to try it at an exciting moment in the game. So when the Seahawks scored a touchdown I did that standing up sitting down thing that made a 'wave'. It worked for about 50 people in the area, then it died down...But a couple of seconds later it continued again and this time went all around the stadium...and I started that! Which I thought was the highlight of the game

Damn Yankees (1958)

I love so many musicals that I had a hard time picking just one movie to nominate. I wanted to pick a movie that I love so much that it's probably a lock for my list, (keeping in mind that I have about 75 movies that are a lock for a list that only allows 25 movies), but also a movie that I haven't read much about here on MoFo. I narrowed it down to three movies, and this was my nomination.

For me, this movie has so much going for it. Not just the songs and the story, but the whole baseball theme too. I've been a NY Mets fan since I was 3 years old, so I've been through many down seasons with them, so I can feel for Joe when he watches his team losing. I've been that same person, sitting in front of the TV yelling "You're blind ump, you're blind ump, you must be out of your mind ump.". I've also been a NY Yankees hater as long as I can remember too, so I can feel for him with that too, and like Joe, I would give anything to see them lose. (Although maybe I would stop just shy of selling my soul to the devil, but the point is that I understand how he feels.)

For those of you who've heard of Bob Fosse, but you've only seen other people dance to his choreography, that's him dancing with Gwen Verdon, (his future real-life wife), in the dance number "Who's Got the Pain?". As much as I love watching Verdon and Fosse dance together in "Who's Got the Pain?", I think she really shines in "Whatever Lola Wants". She's beautiful and sexy, but somehow, Joe finds a way to resist her.

It took me a few times watching the movie to warm up to Tab Hunter as Joe Hardy. He's a bit bland in the role, but the more I watch the movie, the more I realize that it works because he's supposed to be a good man who just wants his team to win, and then to go back to his wife. He's not supposed to be a big personality who can overshadow Walston and Verdon.

Part of me wanted Meg to figure out that Joe Hardy was really "her" Joe, but the movie works without her realizing it too.

This movie made me a fan of Ray Walston. I love him as the devil. He just has a charismatic way of making you like him, even though he manipulates people and causes bad things to happen. But he's so much fun in the role, especially at the times when he doesn't get his way.

If I had to find something to complain about, it would be that the Washington baseball players aren't good singers. They don't have good voices, but I love their songs.

My favorite songs in the movie are "Goodbye, Old Girl", "Heart", "Whatever Lola Wants", and "Two Lost Souls".

I love this movie, and I hope that it at least has a chance to make the countdown.

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If I answer a game thread correctly, just skip my turn and continue with the game.
OPEN FLOOR.

For me, this movie flies by.
I'm glad you liked it. It's too bad you won't have room for it, but as someone who also won't have room for all my favorite musicals on my list, I understand completely.

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy the movie, but thanks for watching it.
Obviously I don't agree with you about the characters, themes, and musical numbers, but you're entitled to your opinion.

Yes, I'm a big baseball fan, but I mostly follow the NY Mets. I don't obsess over other teams like most other baseball fans do, (which is probably why I don't really understand much about fantasy baseball).

I love watching baseball movies, but I understand that they're only movies, so I don't let them get me crazy when they get some minor details wrong.

That's three Bob Fosse choreographed films we've had so far, Fosse is the man! This time we not only get his choreographed numbers, we get his second wife Gwen Verdon and Fosse himself dances in the number Who's Got the Pain? Fosse didn't get a film credit so it's pretty cool that Tab Hunter says after the number is done, "Great work, Fosse!"

I liked the story and characters too, I was always engaged. It helps that I'm a big Ray Walston fan, having watched him on My Favorite Martian and on Star Trek The Next Generation and ST Voyager along with other movies. Walston makes a good, impish devil and it was his character that drove the story and made it fun for me to watch. Tab Hunter was good too but who really impressed was the team's coach, the old guy with the big dent in his forehead, Russ Brown. I almost thought he might have been a real baseball coach. I also was impressed with Joe's wife Shannon Bolin, she had this heart felt performance that I found quite touching.

I read that the director George Abbott filmed the movie fairly statically having the numbers framed like we the audience are in a theater and the performers sing into the camera lens. Not every number, but the getting a stage show on film holds the film back as does lead Gwyn Verdon. She can dance but was too old and well sorry to say, too plain to vamp Tab Hunter in the would be show stopper 'Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets'. I did love her singing and dance style in 'A Little Brains, A Little Talent.'

Glad to have watched it I did like seeing the old baseball stadiums!

I love Damn Yankees…seen it at least a dozen times and it was the first musical I did in high school. Still know all the songs by heart including the ones that were cut from the movie.

You sure about Fossee not getting a film credit Citizen? Swore I saw his name in the opening credits.