The fictional vaudeville-era baseball Wolves are newly owned by a woman named K.C. Higgins. Two of the Wolves' players, Eddie O'Brien and Dennis Ryan, are also part-time vaudevillians. Dennis falls for her, and then Eddie as well, while Dennis is the object of the affections of ardent fan Shirley Delwyn. All of them must contend with a number of gangsters led by Joe Lorgan looking to win a big bet by impairing Eddie's play and causing him to be kicked off the team.[2]
The story may have been influenced by the real life story of actor/ballplayer Mike Donlin who was a baseball player while also being a vaudeville performer and later a film actor in early Hollywood.
The film was announced in May 1948. It was based on a story by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, with a script by Harry Tugend.[3] The female lead of club owner K.C. Higgins was originally to be played by Ginger Rogers, but she withdrew a month before filming and Esther Williams replaced her.[4] Williams claimed that Judy Garland was originally slated to star but was replaced because of substance-abuse problems.[5] Sinatra's role of Dennis Ryan was originally intended for professional baseball manager (and former player) Leo Durocher.[6]
According to TCM's Alicia Malone, Williams maintained a positive relationship with Sinatra but did not enjoy making the film because of the exhausting directorial demands set by Kelly. Although Busby Berkeley was hired as director by producer Arthur Freed, Berkeley withdrew and much of the film was directed by Kelly and Stanley Donen. Though the reason provided for Berkeley's departure was exhaustion, his exit may have been necessitated by his chronic alcoholism and depression. However, his touch can be seen in Williams's pool sequence.[7]
"O'Brien to Ryan to Goldberg" (music by Roger Edens, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green) – Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Jules Munshin
"The Right Girl for Me" (music by Roger Edens, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green) – Frank Sinatra
"It's Fate Baby, It's Fate" (music by Roger Edens, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green) – Frank Sinatra and Betty Garrett
"Strictly U.S.A." (music and lyrics by Roger Edens) – Betty Garrett, Frank Sinatra, Esther Williams and Gene Kelly
"The Hat My Dear Old Father Wore upon St. Patrick's Day" (music and lyrics by Jean Schwartz and William Jerome) – Gene Kelly
Deleted songs
The song "Boys and Girls Like You and Me", originally written by Rodgers and Hammerstein for Oklahoma! (1943), was filmed with Sinatra singing to Garrett but was cut from the released film; the outtake survives today and is included as an extra feature on the DVD.[8][9]
"Baby Doll", sung by Kelly to Williams and including a dance, was deleted from the released film. This footage also survives and is included on the DVD.[9][10]
Reception
Take Me Out to the Ball Game was a box-office success, earning $2,987,000 in the U.S. and Canada and $978,000 overseas, resulting in a profit of $675,000.[1][11]
On March 13, 1949, Bob Thomas of the Associated Press wrote, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game is a sure cure for anybody's blues. Seldom has there been a film loaded with such fine entertainment. Bright young people like Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, Esther Williams, Betty Garrett and Jules Munshin make even the contrived plot likable."[12]
The New York Times' Bosley Crowther gave the film a mixed review, concluding, "For all its high spots, however, the show lacks consistent style and pace, and the stars are forced to clown and grimace much more than becomes their speed. Actually, the plotted humor is conspicuously bush-league stuff. Don't be surprised if you see people getting up for a seventh-inning stretch."[13]
On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 95% rating based on 19 contemporary and modern reviews, with an average rating of 8 out of 10.[14]
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