Austin Film Festival: “VOICES: The Danny Gans Story” Introduces the Man of Many Voices
How do you find your voice when you’re always impersonating others? “Voice” has become shorthand, not for the vocal sounds that come out of a person’s mouth, but for their larger essence. Who we are as people can be boiled down to our voices, our distinct way of being. Danny Gans’ voice was overshadowed by his ability to pretend to be someone else. It’s through the documentary made by his son, Andrew Davies, that Danny regains his sense of identity. Playing as part of the 2025 Austin Film Festival, VOICES: The Danny Gans Story is a tribute from a son to his father, an act of cementing a legacy that goes beyond the stage.
Danny Gans lived a life that feels like it was plucked from the script of a movie. He grew up in Los Angeles and was pushed by his father to become a baseball player. Danny was good, great even, but his father would never give him the encouragement a child craves from their parents. Danny was drafted by the Chicago White Sox, but a career-ending Achilles injury, while devastating, allowed him to pivot to show business. Danny has the sort of singing voice that stops you in your tracks. He had a small part in Bull Durham before starring in a few short-lived sitcoms. Then he became known for his impressions and began his career performing a one-man show. After lucrative performances at corporate events, Danny moved to Vegas and, for ten straight years, won Show of the Year before passing away unexpectedly in 2009.
Courtesy of VOICES: The Danny Gans Story
For the first hour of VOICES: The Danny Gans Story, Andrew introduces the audience to his father. The documentary opens with a sonic montage of Danny’s friends, family, and peers all recounting the massive impact he had on Vegas and the performing arts. Danny’s was the first ticket on the Strip to cost more than $100, yet he’s been forgotten by many. Younger generations may have never even heard of Danny, but this opening is such a kind introduction to Danny as a regular person and to the man who commanded the stage. It looks so effortless as Danny morphs from one impression to another. He’s Elvis in one moment, Bruce Springsteen in the next, Michael Jackson right after. What Danny offers audiences is not just a chance to be wowed by the talents of one man, but also to see a version of the greats all in one show.
Courtesy of VOICES: The Danny Gans Story
For much of his life, Danny was a mirror. He reflected the pop culture of the world to the audience, but rarely got the chance to be himself. Danny worked hard to be the best performer, never feeling he was good enough, despite the accolades and adoration that came his way. It goes back to his adolescence, when his father pushed him harder and harder, never celebrating his triumphs. VOICES: The Danny Gans Story pivots around the one-hour mark as Andrew realizes the film is shifting uncontrollably under his feet. What started as a documentary about the legacy of his father deepens as Andrew learns about the medical issues surrounding Danny’s death. Andrew struggles with what it means to bring this information to light. Does it change how he sees his father? Does it change the impact Danny had? Is this weighing heavier on Andrew because he’s months away from becoming a father himself?
“Making this film is my version of having a few more years of him,” Andrew says. VOICES: The Danny Gans Story is a personal story of a son reconnecting with his father, who was larger than life. Despite living in the spotlight for decades, Danny made sure his presence was felt by his children when he was at home. VOICES: The Danny Gans Story is Andrew’s way of telling his father that, despite what his demons told him, Danny was more than enough and lived a life to be proud of.
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