Whatever Lola Wants, Damn Yankees.

The insatiable Gwen Verdon as Lola in Damn Yankees. This clip is the yardstick.

• Category

  Film & Animation

[Jayjen35]

Okay, here's how theatre works.

Lola is a woman who is hired to seduce men, ruin their careers, break up their marriages, destroy their lives, all for profit. Yet we the audience are supposed to LIKE her. Unlike the Snooky, Whateverhousewife, Basketballwife idiots obsessed world we live in today, back then such women were actually disliked. There is more comedy than seduction in the dance because we are meant to see her as a humorous, lovable character, not a jaded prostitute femme fatal.

[Amanda Sparks]

She's fantastic! And the amazing delicacy of her movements...I'm in AWE. I wish I could move with such precision. All that, AND comedic timing (and a sense of humor) what an amazing woman.

[BardCoennius]

The concept of "sexy" seems to be whatever Madison Avenue and Wall Street want it to be - and whatever they think will sell the most of whatever useless product they're trying to push at any given time.

Frankly, most of today's so-called sex symbols leave me cold...give me Rita Hayworth or Betty Grable anytime.

[BardCoennius]

Amen...

[Alexander Fretheim]

Well and actually burlesque USUALLY has some comedy in it. Unlike stripping, the higher art form of burlesque attempts to illuminate the soul of the woman as well as the body, and uses subtlety, humor and exotic, eccentric, frequently even poetic aesthetic effects to achieve this.

[Lauren Green]

3:11 just creeps me out

[Nga Le]

you're right. I was just thinking that.. She moves as if she's not on high heels

[wafflecakepans]

Didn't I kill her in Dead Space?

[David Savage]

an era long past but anyone who ever saw this in the original of the period will never ever forget it I know I didin't

[Payines gump]

jajajaj is the most anoying voice I ever heard plus she looks stupid

[swiftwind26]

pride and dumb is forever....if you came from dumb this talented display could change your world if you could see beyond your defected sight. if you actually tried anything like singing or dancing you could talk..but no one who ever did would say what you just did....So Obviously Stupid And Proud BAH