Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

MGM, 1949, Color, 93 minutes, ***½

Premiere release March, 1949

General release April, 1949



Fast and fun turn-of-the-century musical teams Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly as baseball players trying to deal with their team's new female owner (Esther Williams). The score incudes "O'Brien to Ryan to Goldberg"; Betty Garrett, Edward Arnold, Jules Munshin co-star under Busby Berkeley's direction.

Produced by: Arthur Freed

Directed by: Busby Berkeley

Screen Play by: Harry Tugend and George Wells

Story by: Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen

Musical Direction: Adolph Deutsch

Lyrics and Music by: Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Roger Edens

Song: "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" by Jack Norworth and Albert Vin Tilzer

Vocal Arrangements: Robert Tucker

Musical Numbers Staged by: Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen

Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Daniel B. Cathcart

Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis

Associate: Henry W. Grace

Women's Costumes by: Helen Rose

Men's Costumes by: Valles

Hair Styles Designed by: Sydney Guilaroff

Make-Up Created by: Jack Dawn

Recording Director: Douglas Shearer

Special Effects: Warren Newcombe

Montage Sequences: Peter Ballbusch

Color by: Technicolor

Director of Photography: George Folsey

Technicolor Color Consultant: Natalie Kalmus

Associate: James Gooch

Film Editor: Blanche Sewell



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], Additional Cast: Murray Alper [Zalinka], Wilton Graff [Nick Donford], Mack Gray [Henchman], Charles Regan [Henchman], Saul Gorss [Steve], Douglas Fowley [Karl], Eddie Parkes [Dr. Winston], James Burke [Cop in Park], The Blackburn Twins [Specialty], Gordon Jones [Sen. Catcher], Jack Bruce, John Burger, Aaron Phillips, Eddie Cutler, Ellsworth Blake, Harry Allen, Joseph Roach, Hubie Kerns, Peter Kooy, Robert Simpson, Richard Landry, Jack Boyle, Richard Beavers [Wolves' Team Members], Virginia Bates, Joi Lansing [Girls on Train], Mitchell Lewis [Fisherman], Esther Michaelson [Fisherman's Wife], Almira Sessions, Isabel O'Madigan, Gil Perkins, Robert Stephenson, Charles Sullivan, Edna Harris [Fans], Frank Scannell [Reporter], Henry Kulky [Burly Acrobat], Dorothy Abbott [Dancer], Jackie Jackson [Kid], Si Jenks [Sam], Jack Rice [Room Clerk], Edward Cassidy [Teddy Roosevelt], Dick Wessel [Umpire], Sally Forrest [Dancer]



Musical Program: [0:06] Overture: "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" / "The Right Girl for Me" (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:09] Take Me Out to the Ball Game (sung and danced by Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra as O'Brien and Ryan vaudeville team); [0:15] Yes, Indeed (sung by Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Men's Chorus; danced by Kelly and Sinatra); [0:28] O'Brien to Ryan to Goldberg (sung and danced by Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Jules Munshin); [0:33] Take Me Out to the Ball Game (reprised by Esther Williams while swimming in the hotel pool); [0:37] The Right Girl for Me (sung by Frank Sinatra); [0:53] It's Fate Baby, It's Fate (sung by Betty Garrett and Frank Sinatra); [0:59] Strictly U.S.A. (production number sung and danced by Betty Garrett, Frank Sinatra, Esther Williams, Gene Kelly and Chorus); [1:08] The Hat My Dear Old Father Wore upon St. Patricks Day (sung and danced by Gene Kelly and Chorus); [1:36] Finale: Strictly U.S.A. (sung and danced by the Gene Kelly, Esther Williams, Frank Sinatra, Betty Garret)