Plot--Players on a professional baseball team try to hold together even as their team is taken over by a strong-willed young woman (Williams). Meanwhile, two players (Kelly and Sinatra) are attracted to the new owner, while a ruthless gambler (Arnold) manipulates them for his benefit. Lively, colorful musical from MGM's golden period. Kelly and Sinatra's dance numbers light up the screen even though the musical selections are largely undistinguished. This was Sinatra's career low period and he does look like he needs a good meal, which the movie parodies. Still his voice entertains, while his soft shoe is almost as good as Kelly's. It's a typical light musical plot of boys and girls meeting up, but then things get too serious near the end and go somewhat off track. Meanwhile, Mermaid Williams looks luscious in her gowns and even gets wet in a brief pool sequence. Still she manages the dance numbers, and without a back- stroke, no less. Williams may add glamour, but Garrett adds real spark. I just wish she got more screen time. On the other hand, the comical Munchin appears a matter of taste, failing to add much to the Kelly-Sinatra combo.All in all, the Busby Berkeley musical shows earmarks of that golden period, even if it doesn't quite obtain front rank status.

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.

When I was about ten years old, I had my tonsils and adenoids removed. In recovery back home, I well remember sitting up on our sofa with my my loving, supportive parents offering encouragement to me that "Yes Gordon, you will get your voice back, no Gordon your throat will not always be sore." I equally well remember my father excitedly promising me that if I was good and did everything I was supposed to do and got well, we would all go (me, my parents and my brother) to see TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME when it opened next week at a local neighbourhood theatre for a Thursday-Saturday run . I was madly in love with the movies then (as I still am) and you bet, I wanted to see that picture. My father, bless his heart loved most sports and he took my brother and me to see almost everything he went to - football, baseball, hockey, wrestling, lacrosse, etc. Not surprisingly he also loved sports movies so tantalizing me with the prospect of seeing TMOTTBG was a slam dunk. (Trust me, my recovery trajectory had only one way to go.) Last week, when I saw the film available on DVD through our local public library I got to thinking about those events, so much so that I decided I would pick it up for a re-see, the nostalgia associated with the title proving too hard to ignore. More an occasional base hit than a grand slam home-run, the picture is the sort of pleasant, breezy musical-comedy entertainment as only MGM could produce them. Starring Frank Sinatra, Esther Williams, Gene Kelly, Jules Munshin and Betty Garrett, it's based upon a Kelly idea/homage to the early days of America's national sport, not that the plot means anything. It's well acted, comical, corny and interspersed with enough musical numbers to retain one's attention. What it does not have for me is very little that is memorable about those musical numbers. Betty Garrett's energetic "It's Fate, Baby, It's Fate" has its moments but only "O'Brian To Ryan To Goldberg" really registers thanks more to Jules Munshin than either Kelly or Sinatra.I am sure as a ten year old kid sitting in our favourite row in the Strand Theatre I would have loved TMOTTBG. As an adult re-viewing it sixty plus years later, not so much.

Sinatra and Kelly are professional baseball players and entertainers. Esther Williams, who recently acquired ownership of the team, supplies the love interest for both Sinatra and Kelly, until Betty Garrett shows up with her usual spunk. How can you go wrong with an American pastime and a light, cheery, and fun musical? It is good and enjoyable, but somehow, comparing it to others of its ilk, this one seems be an inning short of true satisfaction. One shouldn't really criticize the plot of a musical, because musicals are notorious for having paper-thin plots, relying mostly on its stars and the music for true flavor and enjoyment. But, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" doesn't really start with much to it, except for Esther's figure and Ol' Blue Eyes' voice. When Betty Garrett does show up, she does manage to interject some life into it. All in all, while you could do a lot worse and while it is pleasant enough, I would recommend "On the Town" over this fair musical.