Product Description

Whether its Batter up! or Curtain Up!, Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly are ready when they play early-1900s vaudevillians who spend the winter flinging the on-stage blarney and the summer flinging the ol horsehide for baseball's defending world champs, The Wolves. Sinatra is a second sacker Dennis Ryan and Kelly is shortstop Eddie O'Brien in this Busby Berkeley-directed romp that combines a baseball storyline with that other all-American pastime: romance. Esther Williams plays the new team owner thrust into this pack of baseball Wolves. And Betty Garrett is a Baseball Annie with eyes for blue-eyed Ryan. Kelly and Stanley Donen's deft musical stagings ranged from a softshoe duet charmer to an exciting barrel roll Kelly solo. Like the film itself, the duo came up a winner. Their work persuaded producer Arthur Freed to green-light their direction of the same year's On the Town. Year: 1949 Director: Busby Berkeley Starring: Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, Esther Williams, Betty Garrett, Edward Arnold, Jules Munshin

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16911 in DVD
• Brand: Warner Brothers
• Released on: 2008-05-13
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 93 minutes

Features

• Whether its Batter up! or Curtain Up!, Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly are ready when they play early-1900s vaudevillians who spend the winter flinging the on-stage blarney and the summer flinging the ol horsehide for baseball's defending world champs, The Wolves.Sinatra is a second sacker Dennis Ryan and Kelly is shortstop Eddie O'Brien in this Busby Berkeley-directed romp that combines a baseball s

Amazon.com
"From the moment you picked up that grounder and threw it to third, I knew it was love." Baseball and romance make a nifty double play in Take Me Out to the Ball Game, a bright bauble from the golden age of MGM musicals. The premise is a stretch: two members of a turn-of-the-century baseball team (Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra) are vaudeville performers in the off-season. Their ballclub is inherited by Esther Williams, causing much consternation among the boys and anticipating the plot line of Major League by 40 years.

Since swimming star Williams was always seen to best advantage dripping wet, the movie finds a way to get her into a hotel pool. Kelly, mugging mercilessly, executes an extended Irish solo dance (take that, Riverdance), and Sinatra, whose skinny frame is the source of many jokes in the script, is pursued by the irrepressible Betty Garrett and croons the ballad "The Right Girl for Me."

None of this is remotely plausible, and the Comden-Green songs don't stand the test of time, but the film is buoyant--and the period costumes and dazzling Technicolor are eye-popping. This was a reunion for Sinatra and Kelly after Anchors Aweigh (1945), and they would quickly team up again in the superior On the Town (1949), alongside Take Me Out costars Garrett and looming Jules Munshin. As in those films, Sinatra and Kelly dancing side-by- side are a delightful spectacle: Kelly effortlessly hitting his marks while Sinatra gamely tries to keep up. Take Me Out to the Ball Game was the last film directed by the legendary director-choreographer Busby Berkeley, who gets just one shot at a huge production number, a pseudo-Rodgers and Hammerstein tune, "Strictly U.S.A." Peanuts and Cracker Jack not included. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews

Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra are back together again!
Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra are back after starring "Anchors Aweigh", and they're better than ever! Gene Kelly is Eddie O'Brien and Frank Sinatra is Dennis Ryan, two baseball players for the champion team the Wolves, in the off-season they're vaudeville stars. As the baseball season begins to start, the Wolves are horrified to hear that there's a new owner for the team, K.C. Higgins, who's going to 'actively take part in the training'! But as it turns out, the mysterious K.C. Higgins's first name is Katherine (Esther Williams), meaning she's a woman! Womanizer Eddie soon becomes frustrated when the beautiful Katherine doesn't fall for any of his charms, and sparks fly as the two soon become enemies. On the other hand, Dennis begins to fall in love with her but does she return his love? Also starring are Jules Munshin as Nat Goldberg, Eddie and Dennis's best baseball buddy, Betty Garrett as Shirly Delwyn who has her eye on Dennis, and Edward Arnold as Joe Lorgan who is a baseball gambler.

"Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is certainly one of MGM's musical comedy gems. With all the elements of a good musical, including a great cast, terrific music, fantastic dances, sweet romance, and lots of laughs, this musical is a must-see for musical/comedy fans. The plot is not complicated and in the tradition of MGM musical comedies, the story is fast-paced making the 93 minutes just fly by with snappy dialogue, foot-tapping musical numbers, some good plot twists, and great interactions between the characters.

Though Frank Sinatra and Esther Williams are listed first in the credits, this movie is mostly Gene Kelly's. Besides stealing the film with his charm, energy, and his tap dancing powers, who can't help but fall in love with him? A womanizer in the beginning of the film, it is fun to see him in the end fall in love with the 'right girl for him'. Frank Sinatra is of course his sweet self and the scenes between him and Betty Garrett are laugh-out-loud funny! It's surprising to know that he can't really dance since he does pretty well alongside Kelly though it is obvious that Kelly is the more experienced. Jules Munshin is perfectly cast as the third member of the 'O'Brien to Ryan to Goldberg' play, it wouldn't have been too bad to have more of him. And of course, Esther Williams, called at the time "America's Mermaid", is just simply stunning. Though not necessarily a 'swimming movie', Esther of course gets a chance to show off a bathing suit at the hotel swimming pool. It's not everyday a bathing beauty can sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" while swimming!

Now here's a list of the great musical numbers in the movie:
"Take Me Out to the Ball Game" - Here's the famous musical number where Kelly and Sinatra give their vaudeville performance. Later on as I mentioned before, Esther Williams sings this number while swimming.
"Yes, Indeedy" - Kelly and Sinatra sing to the Wolves about their love lives during the off-season.
"O'Brien to Ryan to Goldberg" - One of the best numbers in the movie, Kelly, Sinatra, and Munshin are simply HILARIOUS! Especially the part Munshin tells about how he started off his career in baseball.
"The Right Girl for Me" - What would this film be without Frank Sinatra crooning a beautiful love song?
"It's Fate, Baby" - Betty Garrett will do ANYTHING to convince Sinatra that the two of them are meant to be. Another of the greatest numbers in the movie.

"Strictly U.S.A." - A clam bake, hot dogs, lemonade... it's strictly U.S.A!
"Upon St. Patrick's Day" - The BEST number, the reason is because this is all Gene Kelly's! Singing in an Irish brogue, he later on puts his feet to work, giving us one of the best tap dancing numbers ever done. There's this one part where he will simply stun you as he kicks one of his legs up while his one foot on the ground continues to tap dance! It's no wonder Gene Kelly is one of the best tap dancers there was or probably ever will be.

Here are some other Gene Kelly movies I highly recommend:
*ANCHORS AWEIGH* (1945) - The first teaming up of Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra, also starring is Kathryn Grayson. Not one of the best musical comedies, but it's well worth it to watch Kelly dance "The Worry Song" with the cartoon mouse, Jerry!
*ON THE TOWN* (1949) - Once again, Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Jules Munshin, and Betty Garrett are joined once again to star in this delightful film about three sailors going 'on the town'. Also starring the terrific Anne Miller (in my opinion the best woman tap dancer ever) and the beautiful Vera Ellen.
*COVER GIRL* (1944) - One of Kelly's earlier film, he stars along with Rita Hayworth and Phil Silvers in a movie with a great story.
*SINGIN' IN THE RAIN* (1952) - Who can forget this film, named one of the best musicals ever, starring Kelly alongside Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor? If you haven't seen this, I assure you that you're definitely missing out on a classic!

"Strictly U.S.A"
This is an awesome movie! I think its better than Anchors Aweigh. Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra are two baseball players named Eddie O'Brien and Dennis Ryan who play for the Wolves. During the off-season Eddie and Dennis are vaudeville stars. When they return for the baseball season the whole team is horrifed to hear that the new owner K.C. Higgins wants to take an active part in coaching. As it turns out the K in K.C. Higgins happens to stand for Katherine (Esther Williams) so the new owner is a woman. Katherine dosn't fall for womanizer Eddie so the two don't get along at all!! Dennis does fall for her though, but Katherine isn't in love with him. Shirley Delwyn (Betty Garrett) has her eyes on Dennis and she won't give up on him! Also in the cast is Jules Munshin who plays Nat Goldberg, Dennis and Eddie's baseball pal.

This movie has a lot of great music.
The songs include "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" Frank and Gene sing this song as their vaudeville act. Also Williams sings this while swimming in the pool.
"Yes, Indeedy" The boys sing this song to the baseball team when they return from their vaudeville act. Its about their love life.
"O'Brien to Ryan to Goldberg" Kelly, Sinatra, and Munshin sing this song! One of the best numbers!
"The Right Girl for Me" Sinatra sings this song to Williams.
"It's Fate, Baby" Garrett sings this to Sinatra to prove that they were meant for each other.
"Strictly USA" Probabley the best number everyone sings this at a party.
"Upon St. Patrick's Day" Kelly dances and sings to this great song. He sorta does this Irish gig. Kelly is truly the best dancer there ever was! This is one of the best numbers up there w/ Strictly USA.
At the end Kelly, Sinatra, Williams, Garrett sing to Strictly USA as the finale. It really great! The dvd has the following special features which are 2 deleted numbers called "Baby Face" and "Boys and Girls Like You and Me". It also contains the trailers of Anchors Aweigh, On the Town, and the trailer for this movie. Also includes notes on Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly. For some odd reason I love this movie! This is a must see if you are a Kelly fan!

Take Me Out Is A HOME RUN!!!
This movie isn't just about baseball. It's about so much more! Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly are a great pair that really reveal their true friendship through the camera. This film has great music sung by Esther Williams (yes there's a pool scene. You can't have Esther in a movie without her swimming and singing at least once!), Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Betty Garrett. Is that an all-star cast or what!!! These are the best of the best.
Just like in On The Town, Frank and Gene are looking for women, and when a new one comes to town they both are determined to win her over!
As for a little bit of trivia- Frank Sinatra had no idea how to dance! (You'd never guess that huh?) But for this film, he worked with Gene Kelly for HOURS to get his routines down, because he was determined to make the movie the best it could be.
The movie is also fast-paced. Just when you think about getting bored, another song begins and the storyline progresses. I'm not a big fan of baseball, but this movie is about so much more. It's about loyalty and trust- 2 qualities that are rare these days.
I truly suggest that you get or at least view this classic. They don't make movies like this anymore!!!