Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949)

Two turn-of-the-century baseball players, who work in vaudeville during the off-season, run into trouble with their team's new female owner and a gambler who doesn't want them to win the pennant.

Director:

Busby Berkeley

Writers:

Harry Tugend (screenplay), George Wells (screenplay)

Stars:

Frank Sinatra, Esther Williams, Gene Kelly

2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Frank Sinatra	...	Dennis Ryan
Esther Williams	...	K.C. Higgins
Gene Kelly	...	Eddie O'Brien
Betty Garrett	...	Shirley Delwyn
Edward Arnold	...	Joe Lorgan
Jules Munshin	...	Nat Goldberg
Richard Lane	...	Michael Gilhuly
Tom Dugan	...	Slappy Burke

Storyline

The Wolves baseball team gets steamed when they find they've been inherited by one K.C. Higgins, a suspected "fathead" who intends to take an active interest in running the team. But K.C. turns outs to be a beautiful woman who really knows her baseball. Second baseman Dennis Ryan promptly falls in love. But his playboy roommate Eddie O'Brien has his own notions about how to treat the new lady owner and some unsavory gamblers have their own ideas about how to handle Eddie.

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Plot Keywords:

swimming | baseball | baseball team | home run | pennant race | 

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Taglines:

A Homerun Of Laughter, Romance And Fun

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance | Sport

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

April 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

La linda dictadora

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,725,970 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Busby Berkeley came up with an imaginative swimming number for Esther Williams and Gene Kelly but Kelly refused to partner Williams in the pool. Their only duet, "Baby Doll," was ultimately deleted from the final film, but the footage can be seen and heard on the laserdisc and DVD releases of the film.

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Goofs

During the Opening Day scene, the color of the opposing team's uniforms changes from gray & red to gray & green.

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Quotes

K.C. Higgins: Aren't you ball players supposed to be in training?
Eddie O'Brien: Training? Who me? I don't believe in it.
K.C. Higgins: You don't say. Well, what time do you usually get in?
Eddie O'Brien: Well, we're supposed to be in by ten o'clock. But, well, it's all right for the other fellas; but, I usually get in about midnight - except, of course, when I have an extra special date and then I get in about two or three. Tonight, I could stay out till five.
K.C. Higgins: Really? Won't Mr. Gilhuly get mad?
Eddie O'Brien: Well, what I always say is, what the boss doesn't know, ...

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Connections

Featured in Magnavox Presents Frank Sinatra (1973)

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Soundtracks

Strictly U.S.A.
(uncredited)
Written by Roger Edens
Performed by Betty Garrett, Frank Sinatra, Esther Williams and Gene Kelly

User Reviews

Charming Gem

Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949)

*** (out of 4)

Eddie (Gene Kelly) and Dennis (Frank Sinatra) are two leaders of their baseball team who also like to sing and dance on the side. The championship team learns that a new person has taken control of the team and to everyone's shock it turns out to be a woman (Ester Williams). The two men are soon fighting over the woman while Eddie also gets caught up with a gambler (Edward Arnold).

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME isn't nearly in the same league as ON THE TOWN, the previous Sinatra and Kelly teaming but if you're a fan of the men then there's no doubt that you'll want to check this film out. While it isn't in that tier of classic MGM musicals it's still a pretty darn fun film to watch.

I think it should go without saying that the main reason to watch the film is for its cast. Both Kelly and Sinatra would obviously do much better things in their careers but they certainly had a chemistry that was undeniable. The two play well off of one another and it's somewhat shocking that Sinatra would get top-billing even though he's not in the film nearly as much. The two open and close the film with very good musical numbers and there are fun tunes throughout.

Williams is also extremely good in her role playing a tougher-than-normal woman who gives it to bother the men. Betty Garrett is good in her part as is Arnold and Richard Lane. The entire cast really does a nice job at capturing the spirit of baseball. The musical numbers, staged by Stanley Donan and Kelly, are quite good and will certainly leave you with a smile on your face.

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME isn't a masterpiece but it's hard to deny its charm.