TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME (1949)

As a young man, Gene Kelly had dreamed of playing professional baseball. His career may have gone in another direction, but he lived out his childhood dreams when he and co-choreographer Stanley Donen sold MGM the story for this musical. Kelly and Frank Sinatra are members of the fictional Wolves baseball team whose lives are thrown into disarray when the team’s new owner turns out to be a woman (Esther Williams). Before long, the star players who had initially resented her presence begin competing for her attention. It’s all innocent fun, but the chance to play out Kelly’s youthful fantasies made this Kelly and Sinatra’s favorite of their three films together. When director Busby Berkeley fell ill early on, Kelly and Donen took over direction, which acted like a dress rehearsal for On the Town (1949), their first film as credited directors. This picture’s comic players Betty Garrett and Jules Munshin, along with star Sinatra, would all appear in that musical.

d. Busby Berkeley, 93m, DCP

Courtesy of Warner Brothers Classics.