Producer/director Stanley Donen, who shared directing credit with writer George Abbott (it was in fact a Donen film, with Abbott providing stage to film expertise), adapted Abbott’s long-running stage play — on Broadway from May of 1955 until the middle of October in 1957 — for the screen. A second unit filmed actual Yankee/Senator games for use in the films, with the old Wrigley Field in Los Angeles doubling for “on field” dance numbers and close-ups (ah, the magic of film, don’t you just love it).
As for the cast, all of the major cast members (Gwen Verdon, Ray Walston, Jean Stapleton, etc.) were from the stage play, with the exception of Tab Hunter, who replaced stage actor Stephen Douglass as Joe Hardy. Also, of note, the choreography is by future Oscar-winner Bob Fosse (Best Director for Cabaret, plus nominated for Best Director for both Lenny and All That Jazz), who was married to actress Joan McCracken during the production of the film, but would leave her and marry the film’s star, Lola (Gwen Verdon — whose many screen appearances were often uncredited … she was, however, featured in The Cotton Club, Cocoon, etc.) and they would remain together until Fosse’s death in 1987.
In other release news from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment this week, director Gareth Edwards’ 2014 mega-hit reboot of Godzilla, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson — Tenet, Nocturnal Animals, Kick-Ass), Bryan Cranston, David Strathairn, Ken Watanabe and Sally Hawkins, will be getting a 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack release on Mar. 23.
Bonus goodies are all reprised from the previous Blu-ray release and include the multi-part featurettes “MONARCH: Declassified” and “The Legendary Godzilla.”
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