Home Run on the Keys (1937)

Babe Ruth returns from hunting to a cabin shared with musicians Zez Confrey and Byron Gay where he regales them with the story of his famous called shot. With Babe's help, they write a song about baseball which then debuts on a radio show.

Director:

Roy Mack

Writer:

Cyrus Wood (as Cyrus D. Wood)

Stars:

Babe Ruth, Zez Confrey, Byron Gay

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Babe Ruth	...	Babe Ruth
Zez Confrey	...	Zez Confrey
Byron Gay	...	Bryon Gay
The DeMarco Sisters	...	The Three De Marco Sisters (as The Three De Marcos)

Storyline

A Warners/Vitaphone short that proves the Vitaphone shorts operation in New York was every bit as capable of making just as bad short subjects as those churned out by Educational Pictures. This one opens up with NY Yankee slugger (retired) Babe Ruth returning from pheasant hunting to a cabin shared with musicians Zez Confrey and Byron Gay, and the three of them being inspired to knock off a little highly-forgettable ditty called "Home Run on the Keys." Ruth also takes time to tell of the home run he called on a third strike, but manages to describe it coming in an incorrect situation. The three go back to New York to appear on a radio program where the Vitaphone Orchestra, led by David Mendoza, plays their "new hit". Mendoza, in a rare turn before the cameras, turns the baton over to The Bambino/Sultan of Swat, who directs the orchestra with all the style of a bull in a china shop. The very-young Three De Marcos (later to grow up to become the recording De Marco Sisters of the 40's ...

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Plot Keywords:

home run | babe ruth | baseball player | baseball stadium | live studio orchestra | 

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Genres:

Short | Music | Sport

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 April 1937 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Vitaphone production reel #2073.

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Quotes

Babe Ruth: [On the radio] Hello, folks. My two friends and myself have written a number called 'Home run on the Keys". We're jumping into the studio like this, so sudden, why, we figure we got two strikes on us already. But, remember, you only have one to hit. So, David, play it!
Orchestra Conductor: Okay.
[Orchestra starts playing]
Babe Ruth: Play ball! - - Strike one! - - Strike two! - - Foul ball. - - Ball one! - - Ball two! - - Ball three! - - It's a home run!

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Soundtracks

Kitten on the Keys
(uncredited)
Written by Zez Confrey
Performed by Zez Confrey

User Reviews

Worth Watching to See Ruth

Home Run on the Keys (1937)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Decent Vitaphone short belongs in the Musical genre but I'm pretty sure it's baseball fans who are going to get the biggest kick out of it. What we have is Babe Ruth discussing music with some friends and he gives them the idea of putting a baseball song on the radio, which turns out to be the title number. We also have the DeMarco Sisters doing "On the Beach at Bali-Bali." That's pretty much all there is to this short. We get two musical numbers and neither one is all that impressive but the main reason to check this out is for getting to see the Babe. He certainly wasn't a great actor but I found him to be quite charming here. There's a scene where he's apparently playing the piano but since we never see his hands I'm going to guess that someone else was doing it.