Take Me Out to the Ball Game

As previously stated, Gene Kelly's dream as a young man was to be a shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team of his hometown. In Take Me Out to the Ball Game, a 1949 film directed by Busby Berkeley, he's shortstop for the Wolves, the defending world champion at the turn of the twentieth century. His double-play combination is Frank Sinatra, and the first baseman is Jules Munshin. Together they are, as the song goes, "O'Brien to Ryan to Goldberg."

This buoyant, charming film is impossible to dislike, even if it is corny. Baseball fans and non-fans alike will enjoy it, as it doesn't get the details of the game wrong, nor does it require a deep understanding (it's no musical version of Moneyball).

Kelly and Sinatra are not only teammates but best pals. During the off-season they have a vaudeville act song and dance act, and get to Florida just in time for spring training. The team has a new owner, and it turns out to be a woman--Esther Williams (yes, they manage to get a scene with her in a pool, singing the title song). In a replay of Anchors Aweigh, at first Sinatra falls for her, but it's Kelly who ends up pining for her, despite their initial hatred of each other.

The film really is Anchors Aweigh in baseball uniforms, but much better paced, for once again Kelly is the lady's man, Sinatra the shy guy, who ends up with a down to earth type (in Anchors, it was Pamela Britton, here it's Betty Garrett).

The music is lively and not too insistent--I think there were only about five numbers, including an Irish dance sequence done by Kelly. Toward the end some additional conflict is thrown in with professional gamblers (led by Edward Arnold) trying to get Kelly to throw the pennant.

This is a perfect film for a warm summer's day, just before game time.