The Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly Collection

Though marketed as part of a quartet of boxed sets devoted to the film career of Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly is the main attraction in this particular three-film collection featuring Anchors Aweigh (1945), Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1948) and (the best) On the Town (1949), all also available separately. Over the course of this cinematic trio, viewers watch Kelly (as the choreographer) develop his more muscular, athletic style of dance. On the Town, written by Adolph Green and Betty Comden (who would later collaborate on Singin' in the Rain), is a helluva musical (to paraphrase the title song) that follows three sailors—Sinatra, Kelly, and comic relief Jules Munshin—on 24-hour leave in New York (the first musical to be filmed with songs on location). As for the others, Anchors Aweigh, the last film directed by Busby Berkeley, drags heavily at 140 minutes, and Take Me Out to the Ball Game is a corny blend of baseball and vaudeville (that still manages to work in a swimming pool number with Esther Williams). Both films are best enjoyed watching the That's Entertainment series, which cherry-picks the best musical and production numbers, such as Kelly's classic dance with animated Jerry (of Tom & Jerry fame) in Anchors Aweigh or “O'Brien to Ryan to Goldberg” from Take Me Out to the Ball Game. While the set offers great value, the extras are hit and miss, ranging from two deleted musical numbers from Take Me Out and a brief interview with animators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera for Anchors Aweigh to a trailer for On the Town. Recommended, overall. [Note: the other new boxed Sinatra sets available are The Rat Pack Ultimate Collector's Edition ($59.95), Frank Sinatra: The Early Years ($39.95) and Frank Sinatra: The Golden Years ($39.95).] (D. Liebenson)