In Voices: The Danny Gans Story, a Son Comprehends His Legendary Father - MovieMaker Magazine

      When filmmaker Andrew Davies Gans embarked on the journey to share the story of his father, the late Danny Gans, he aimed to honor one of the greatest entertainers in Las Vegas history: a singer, comedian, and impersonator who captivated audiences with his precise imitations of icons like Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Michael Jackson, evoking laughter one moment and tears the next.

      It would be easy to view the first-time director's film, *Voices: The Danny Gans Story*, simply as a tribute to his dad. However, it goes beyond that, thanks to Danny Gans' remarkable talents and Andrew Davies Gans' engaging direction, which uncovers the mysteries surrounding his father's life and death. This documentary will be showcased this weekend at the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival.

      After Danny Gans passed away unexpectedly in 2009 at the age of 52, he left behind not just countless fans but also his wife Julie and their three young children. Like his renowned father and grandfather, Andrew Davies Gans aspired to play professional baseball, but an injury redirected him to the entertainment industry. Eventually, he ventured into producing and ultimately created *Voices*.

      “I believed I was making a film about a legend who was also my dad,” he tells MovieMaker. “What I ended up creating was a film about a man I didn’t fully comprehend and, in many ways, a film about myself.”

      We spoke with Andrew Davies Gans about storytelling, baseball, and wholehearted commitment.

      **Andrew Davies Gans on Directing *Voices: The Danny Gans Story***

      Andrew Davies Gans interviews his father's friend Donny Osmond for *Voices: The Danny Gans Story*. Glanzrock Productions

      **MovieMaker:** This film appears to have evolved into something different from your initial vision. How did you first imagine it, and how did that change as you discovered more about your dad?

      **Andrew Davies Gans:** Growing up around someone like my dad, the mythology comes first. The sold-out performances, the applause, the way people spoke of him as if he were more than human. You inherit that version of him before you truly get to know the man beneath the surface.

      I began the film aiming to honor that. However, the deeper I delved, the more I uncovered the costs— the pressure, the physical toll, the isolation that comes from being who everyone expects you to be.

      This exploration compelled me to confront my own experiences. I pursued baseball in the same way he did, driven by a need to prove something. That identity became intertwined with performance. And when that path closed for me, I realized I not only lost a dream but also the version of myself I believed I was meant to be.

      Thus, the film transformed. It shifted from “how did he do it?” to “what did it necessitate, and what repercussions did it have?”

      Because that’s where the truth resides. Not in the accolades, but in the sacrifices made to achieve them.

      **Andrew Davies Gans**

      **MovieMaker:** While watching the documentary, I was curious about how he developed his remarkable skills as a singer and impersonator. He aimed to become a professional baseball player but turned to entertainment as a fallback. How did he become skilled enough to secure his first significant gig in Palm Springs, opening up many other opportunities?

      **Andrew Davies Gans:** To some extent, he was born with an extraordinary talent for voices and imitation. But people often think talent alone accounts for it. It doesn’t.

      What he possessed was obsession and determination. He didn’t merely mimic voices; he studied individuals—their breathing patterns between lines, how their jaws moved, the tension in their shoulders. He approached performance almost scientifically. He applied the same level of detail to the structure of his shows.

      I believe that losing baseball intensified that focus. When that door closed, he didn’t just casually shift; he redirected all his efforts toward mastering something else.

      There's a moment in the film where you realize… this wasn't merely a backup plan. It transformed into a matter of survival, identity, proof. That kind of drive stems from a profound desire to validate oneself and to matter.

      **MovieMaker:** I found it striking that both you and your dad yearned to be ballplayers and turned to entertainment after an injury. If you could go back in time, would you still choose baseball first? Do you think your dad would have preferred playing baseball?

      **Andrew Davies Gans:** I don’t think either of us truly had a clear choice. Baseball was the dream, but storytelling is where we both ended up expressing truths. I was the third generation of Gans men drafted into professional baseball. My grandfather played until injury ended his career, leading him to become a singer and comedian. My dad followed the same trajectory—drafted, injured, then transitioned to entertainment. And then it happened again with me.

      At a certain point