She was always great on stage, but Gwen was 44 when Sweet Charity was made. They would never have risked a multi-million dollar movie on her at that point. She didn't have the looks for movie stardom and away from Broadway, most moviegoers didn't know her.

@@chrisn7259 But the movie was really a flop...

Chris N Gwen Verdon was an established theatre AND movie star by the time Sweet Charity was in production. In the beginning of their marriage, Gwen was a bigger star and more well known in Hollywood than Fosse. He got a lot of opportunities to grow his name and career because of her connections. Regarding Shirley, it was a studio decision to cast her because she had come to be known for her comedic roles, she was a studio darling, and yes her looks. Her looks, not because she was thought of as a bombshell. Her looks because she had the Gwen Verdon look. You may not think Gwen is attractive but she was thought to be quite beautiful in a quirky way and Shirley Maclaine was seen as a quirky beauty back then too. Ultimately, the movie flopped and was a stain on the careers of all associated. What the studio probably should have considered was first, making the movie sooner and second, using the woman who already had a huge built in fan base associated with her originating that character much like Damn Yankees. And Shirley was no spring chicken, she was something like 35.

@@jamie1044 I agree. I admire Shirley MacLaine, but Gwen Verdon embodied the character so deeply, it would have been really fantastic to see what Fosse and Verdon could create together for the movie, and who cares about her age.

@@jamie1044 wow is 35 old in your book ???

She encouraged Shirley McClain to go after the role. She was also assistant Choreographer so she did ok. But I do agree she is the best Charity!

@@carveylover She was given no chance. I really can’t disagree more with your comment, you give an impression that she wasn’t ROBBED. She didn’t “encourage” Shirley to “go after it”, she trained Shirley up for the role after Shirley was cast at the behest of Fosse and the studio execs. Hardly a case where anyone with a heart would say “so she she did ok”. She was deemed too old, too unattractive and too unknown to mainstream non-broadway audiences. It was unfair and the situation stunk.

Andrew Rudin I think that Agnes Moorehead would have been a better Lola in the movie version. 😉 But seriously folks, I agree that Gwen Verdon was ideal casting for this role.

Andrew Rudin or using Shirley McLaine instead of Gwen in Sweet Charity!

@@tombennett3827 I've never heard that Agnes could sing and dance well enough to star in a musical.

@@lasktdave I think he was being facetious, or sarcastic, or something.

The Hollywood musicals were wonderful but very much of their time. And as such, unrepeatable. I compare it to an innocent child who believes that fairy-tales are real. Once the child's mind is 'corrupted', fairy-tales will be seen as just that. The same can be said of songs/lyrics of the time. Yesterday neighbours next door were having a queen's Jubilee party in their garden. I could not start to describe the music that was being played. And this was supposed to be a gathering of people celebrating? TO THIS MUSIC?! Even double-glasing couldn't keep out the monotonous, repetitive beat.

Yeah, but ".... lamps on" rhyming with "Sampson" is pretty damn good, if not really still better.

How is one racier then the other?

@@LeighMet likely a generational thing- wouldn't have been seemly during the 1950s to suggest anything racy about George Washington...'unAmerican' , I'm guesssing

@@LeighMet The father if the country vs. a mythological figure.

Racier lyrics? Richard Arlen didn't mention that in his autobiography, but he did say Gwen was complaining about this particular song, saying the lyrics don't rhyme, he said to her, "Yes, they do rhyme..."

WytZox1 yes, and she was also in movies like "Cocoon" and "Cotton Club."

WytZox1, not to mention that she played Thomas Magnum's mother in MAGNUM, P.I.--and did it charmingly. :-)

As a kid I remember wathing Damn Yankees in the very late fifties(over sixty years ago). And over the last few weeks I returned to 'Whatever Lola Wants' number again and again. What would I(we) do without KZfaq?!

@@hamrunfc1 Hello. I'm kinda on UTUBE alot. Bob Fossie was also in that movie with Gwen. They were married. They did that number "Who's Got The Pain"...I liked that Dance number. I have the DVD Of Damn Yankees, I love that video. Always liked Gewn Verdon. You have the name I had before I was born. "Linda," then my mother changed it to Leslie. I hate my name. Rather been named Linda. I bought some books from Amazon, Gwen Verdon, Bob Fossie. Interesting reading. Bob F. does a fabulous dance number near the end of Kiss Me Kate movie. I've been enjoying UTUBE for awhile.

good bad old days

He sings 'Those Were The Good Old Days'

Hey Seavor!

Yeah it is, but it’s supposed to be the Devil’s bedroom. So it seems fittingly garish