TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME -- Busby Berkeley, dir

©1949
studio: Warner Home Video
production company: Metro-Goldywn-Mayer
dir: Busby Berkely
cast: Frank Sinatra, Esther Williams, Gene Kelly, Betty Garrett, Edward Arnold, Jules Munshin
screenplay: Harry Tugend and George Wells

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. [from imdb.com]

*****

Let me start out by saying that I'm a huge fan of Gene Kelly. I will like any movie that he's in, and this is no exception. I don't know that I had ever seen this film, but for no reason other than a lack of accessibility to the flick.

While there's nothing here that will be particularly memorable, there's also nothing here that will be particularly offensive, and it is incredibly delightful.

Neither Sinatra, nor Kelly, are great actors, but Sinatra sure can sing, and Kelly is, in my opinion, the best all-around male dancer who's ever lived. This alone makes the movie worth watching.

Esther Williams does a really fine job, and Betty Garrett always delivers a wonderful performance. If you're looking for a movie for just pure entertainment value for some cold, winter evening, this is a great choice.