In this second episode, the filmmakers focus on the earliest collaboration of Verdon and Fosse in the musical "Damn Yankees." The narrative unfolds in flashback from Verdon's perspective, as she is about to leave Fosse during the filming of "Cabaret." Her thoughts revert to the fateful meeting in "Damn Yankees."
When Fosse and Verdon first began working together, he was married to the brilliant dancer Joan McCracken, one of the luminaries in the groundbreaking musical "Oklahoma!" McCracken was the single most important influence on Fosse's career, persuading him to give up his pipe dream of becoming the next Fred Astaire, continuing with his training, and focusing on choreography and directing.
In Fosse's revolving door of lovers, he was first married to his dance partner, Mary Ann Niles, trading her in for the latest model in McCracken. At the time Fosse began his relationship with Verdon, McCracken was desperately ill with the diabetes that would eventually take her life. But McCracken would haunt Fosse, eventually showing up in the fictional character Angelique, the angel of death played by Jessica Lange in "All That Jazz."
Michelle Williams lacks the dancing skills as a convincing Gwen Verdon at the top of her game. But she compensates with a spot-on dramatic interpretation of the stormy relationship of Verdon and Fosse. The best moment in this program is Williams' wrenching reading of Verdon's priceless line "I can't take away a dying woman's husband," as she then proceeds to do exactly that!
The program captures the exciting world of dance in the rehearsals, improvisations, and scenes from "Damn Yankees." There is a great moment when Fosse is eavesdropping on director George Abbott's conversation in an adjoining hotel room, learning that one of his dancer numbers is about to be cut. Fosse then throws such a hissy fit that he is nearly suicidal, and the number is restored. The "Who's Got the Pain?" number in "Damn Yankees" is a showcase of the unbelievable talents of Verdon, which were not quite fully captured in this program.
When Fosse and Verdon first began working together, he was married to the brilliant dancer Joan McCracken, one of the luminaries in the groundbreaking musical "Oklahoma!" McCracken was the single most important influence on Fosse's career, persuading him to give up his pipe dream of becoming the next Fred Astaire, continuing with his training, and focusing on choreography and directing.
In Fosse's revolving door of lovers, he was first married to his dance partner, Mary Ann Niles, trading her in for the latest model in McCracken. At the time Fosse began his relationship with Verdon, McCracken was desperately ill with the diabetes that would eventually take her life. But McCracken would haunt Fosse, eventually showing up in the fictional character Angelique, the angel of death played by Jessica Lange in "All That Jazz."
Michelle Williams lacks the dancing skills as a convincing Gwen Verdon at the top of her game. But she compensates with a spot-on dramatic interpretation of the stormy relationship of Verdon and Fosse. The best moment in this program is Williams' wrenching reading of Verdon's priceless line "I can't take away a dying woman's husband," as she then proceeds to do exactly that!
The program captures the exciting world of dance in the rehearsals, improvisations, and scenes from "Damn Yankees." There is a great moment when Fosse is eavesdropping on director George Abbott's conversation in an adjoining hotel room, learning that one of his dancer numbers is about to be cut. Fosse then throws such a hissy fit that he is nearly suicidal, and the number is restored. The "Who's Got the Pain?" number in "Damn Yankees" is a showcase of the unbelievable talents of Verdon, which were not quite fully captured in this program.
