The three films in this set are Anchors Aweigh (1945), TakeMe Out to the Ball Game (1948) and Onthe Town (1949). Anchors Aweigh is the major spectacle ofthe three, a full two hours long, featuring Kelly’s famous dance duet with Tomthe Mouse (of Tom & Jerry fame). (Depending on your age, you might know it more from a Pepsi commercialwith Paula Abdul dropped in to make the dance duo a trio rather than from thefilm.) Anchors Aweigh also stars Kathryn Grayson and Jose Iturbi.
The basic story in all three films is the same: Kelly and Sinatra are pals (Navybuddies in Anchors and On the Town; baseball teammates in Take Me Out to the Ball Game). Kelly’s always the more savvy of thetwo, and the one with both the knowledge of and thirst for womanizing. Sinatra is the aww shucks babe in thewood, at least compared to Kelly. They hit a town for whatever reason, Kelly gets unwillingly hooked on agirl who’s not the type he usually goes for (and often the girl Sinatra wassweet on to start with), sees the error of his ways, and ends up settlingdown. Not that Sinatra gets leftout; he just ends up with a girl better suited to him. In Onthe Town and Ball Game, JulesMunshin is also along for the fun.
Quick synopses, just so you know which film is which: In Anchors,the boys befriend an orphaned boy who wants to join the Navy. They meet his Aunt Susie (Grayson), anaspiring singer and actress. Trying to impress her, they claim to know Iturbi, and further claim tohave arranged an audition. Sinatra’s Clarence is sweet on Susie to start with, but thoroughlytongue-tied in her presence; strangely, he has no trouble talking to a waitressin the restaurant where Susie sings. Of course, she’s from Brooklyn, just like him. In the meantime, Kelly’s Joe falls for Susie himself. This one in particular has wonderfuldancing; in addition to the duet with Tom the Mouse, I have a soft spot for Kelly’sdance with a little girl outside the restaurant.
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