Betty Garrett Movies

The life stories of Broadway tunesmiths Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart are prettified for the screen in MGM's Words and Music. Billed fourth, the colorless Tom Drake plays Rodgers, but never mind that: the film belongs to Mickey Rooney, as the dynamic, self-destructive Lorenz Hart. Understandably, Hart's bisexuality is downplayed. According to MGM, his biggest problem in life is that he was never satisfied with his work. We are, however, especially when those great Rodgers & Hart tunes are performed by the likes of Judy Garland, Janet Leigh, Perry Como, Lena Horne, June Allyson, Cyd Charisse, Betty Garrett, Ann Sothern, Mel Torme, Allyn McLerie, Gene Kelly and Vera-Ellen. The musical highlights include Garland's powerhouse rendition of Johnny One-Note, Kelly's Slaughter on 10th Avenue dance solo, Horne's interpretation of Where or When, Allyson's take on Thou Swell, and, best of all, Rooney's premiere performance of I'll Take Manhattan, which he allegedly had just written on the back of an automobile advertisement! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Esther Williams and Red Skelton share equal screen time for once in the MGM Technicolor musical Neptune's Daughter. The title character is, of course, Williams, here cast as Eve Barrett, a bathing-suit manufacturer (and sometimes model). Skelton plays Jack Spratt, the masseur at a fancy polo club, who falls for Eve's sister (Betty Garrett). To prove worthy of her love, Jack poses as dashing Latin polo star Jose O'Rourke (Ricardo Montalban), resulting in a wealth of comic complications. The slapstick setpieces include a hilarious horse-mounting routine and a climactic set-to between Skelton and petty crook Mike Mazurki; there's also a few inspired moments from Mel Blanc, cast as a slow-talking Mexican. While Xavier Cugat is on hand as "himself," the film's musical high point is the Oscar-winning Baby It's Cold Outside, performed first by Williams and Montalban and then by Skelton and Garrett. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

So baseball pictures never make money, eh? Try telling that to MGM, which raked in a box office gross of $4 million on their 1949 baseball musical Take Me Out to the Ball Game. Set in 1906, the film concerns the adventures and misadventures of The Wolves, a champion ball club. The team's success is contingent upon the double-play combination of "O'Brien to Ryan to Goldberg." But while Goldberg (Jules Munshin) lives to play baseball, O'Brien (Gene Kelly) and Ryan (Frank Sinatra) would rather pursue their off-season vaudeville career. Both erstwhile song-and-dance men decide to stick around on the baseball diamond when they mutually fall in love with the Wolves' new owner, the lovely K.C. Higgins (Esther Williams). Though O'Brien wins K.C. for himself, Ryan is compensated with the aggressively affectionate Shirley Delwyn (Betty Garrett). Gambler Joe Lorgan (Edward Arnold), who has bet heavily against the Wolves in an upcoming Big Game, woos O'Brien away from the team with promises of a big role in an upcoming musical comedy. Having let down K.C. and the rest of the team, O'Brien vows to redeem himself by playing in the crucial game. Lorgan gets wind of this, and orders his henchmen to do away with O'Brien. Hoping to shield his buddy from harm, Ryan beans O'Brien with a pitched ball, thereby incapacitating the prodigal player. The crooks are vanquished, and K.C. forgives O'Brien. But upon learning that Ryan had knocked him out, O'Brien charges onto the diamond, thirsting for revenge. Believe it or not, this action results in no fewer than two winning home runs! We offer you this detailed synopsis because it's likely that you'll be too entertained by the film's musical numbers to pay any attention to the story. Outside of the title number and Gene Kelly's solo "The Hat My Father Wore on St. Patrick's Day," the picture's best songs are contributed by Betty Comden, Adolf Green and Roger Edens. Take Me Out to the Ball Game is so delightful as it stands that one can only wonder what the film would have looked like had MGM's first choice Kathryn Grayson--or the studio's second choice, Judy Garland--played the Esther Williams role (In a similar vein, the Frank Sinatra character was originally to have been played by real-life Brooklyn Dodgers manager Leo Durocher!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Musical comedy star Betty Garrett goes dramatic big-time in the hostage drama Shadow on the Window. Betty plays Linda Atlas, the mother of seven-year-old Petey Atlas (portrayed by Jerry "The Beaver" Mathers). When Petey witnesses a murder committed by a trio of juvenile delinquents, he wanders off in a state of shock. The three punks (John Barrymore Jr., Corey Allen and Gerald Sarricini) kidnap Linda, who's also witnessed their crime, holding her prisoner to keep the boy from talking -- if and when he recovers. Meanwhile, the authorities launch a frenzied manhunt in search of the catatonic boy, led by Petey's dad, police officer Tony Atlas (Phil Carey). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Archie and Mike can't understand why the usually ebullient Edith is unable to get into the Christmas spirit. Only when she is alone with Gloria does Edith reveal what is preying on her mind: She thinks she may have breast cancer. It is up to next-door neighbor Irene Lorenzo to restore Edith's customary good spirits -- and she does so by making a surprising revelation of her own. Scripted by Austin and Irma Kalish from a story by Don Nicholl, "Edith's Christmas Story" was originally telecast on December 22, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

While Archie is out of the house, the rest of the family joins Lionel and the Lorenzos in playing Mike's new "group therapy" board game, in which the players reveal their honest opinions about the other players. Alas, Mike doesn't like what he hears when time comes for the others to vent their feelings about him. It is up to Edith, displaying wisdom above and beyond her standard "Dingbat" status, to get Mike back on the right track. Though Carroll O'Connor is largely absent from the proceedings, his appearance at the tail end of the episode provides the evening's biggest laugh. Written by Michael Ross and Bernie West, "The Games Bunkers Play" first aired on November 3, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This episode is essentially a solo tour de force for series star Carroll O'Connor. Left home alone while the rest of the family is out of town for the weekend, Archie manages to get himself locked in the cellar. Convinced that he will perish before he is discovered, Archie prepares to meet his Maker by fortifying himself with a bottle of vodka. The scene in which the besotted Mr. Bunker responds to a persistent rap on the cellar door with "I'm comin' Lord, I'm comin'!" -- and his reaction when he sees who's on the other side of the door -- may well be the series' single most hilarious moment. Written by Don Nicholl, "Archie in the Cellar" was first telecast on November 17, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Now that the Lorenzos have moved next door to the Bunkers, Archie has managed to come up with a whole new list of pet peeves. It especially vexes Archie that Irene and Frank Lorenzo don't seem to know their proper gender roles: Irene does the household repairs, while Frank does all the cooking -- and even sings in the kitchen. Even worse, at least as far as Archie is concerned, Irene bids fair to become Edith's new best friend. Written by Michael Ross and Bernie West, "We're Still Having a Heat Wave" first aired on September 22, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Gloria has always been aware that Mike is against overpopulation. Even so, she is shocked when Mike states, flat out, that he doesn't want any children. The ensuing argument spreads throughout the Bunker household, affecting not only Archie and Edith, but next-door neighbor Irene Lorenzo as well. Written by Dixie Brown Grossman, "Gloria's Shock" made its first CBS network appearance on October 26, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a three-part story arc, the Bunker household is relieved that Archie Bunker, reported missing from his lodge convention in Buffalo, has been found. It turns out that he had "one too many" with his buddies, and spent two days sleeping it off (as good an explanation as any for the absence of series star Carroll O'Connor, who had actually briefly walked off the set due to a salary dispute). In anticipation of Archie's return, the family holds all sorts of celebratory contests, with Gloria and Mike attempting to hold a kiss until Archie walks through the front door. Written by Lloyd Turner and Gordon Mitchell, "The Longest Kiss" originally aired on November 16, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Pregnant Gloria's "due date" has come and gone. In fact, nine full days have passed since Gloria was supposed to have given birth. Frustrated beyond belief, Gloria explosively takes out her anger on Mike -- and before long even Edith has fallen victim to her daughter's crabbiness. Others in the cast include Robin Wilson as Sylvia, Garn Stephens as Dotty, and Madeline Fisher as Vicki. Written by Milt Josefsberg and Ben Starr, "Gloria Is Nervous" originally aired on December 8, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hoping to get in good with his employer, Mr. Sanders (Sorrell Booke), and thereby land a promotion to dispatcher, Archie makes a huge charitable contribution to his boss' favorite charity. Unfortunately, he also unknowingly signs a contract donating his body and vital organs to science -- and everyone knows how Archie feels about "giving" any part of himself to someone he doesn't know. Written by Bill Davenport and Larry Rhine, this was one of four sixth-season All in the Family episodes in which Sally Struthers did not appear due to a salary dispute. The episode first aired on September 22, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

An old sitcom plot line is given a fresh new workout in this episode of All in the Family. Receiving a chain letter from superstitious Edith, Archie and Mike laugh off the "dire predictions" catalogued therein and disdainfully throw the letter away. But then, both men experiencing an uncanny streak of bad luck. Future Benson star Robert Guillaume appears as the doctor. Written by Lou Derman and Milt Josefsberg, "Chain Letter" originally aired on October 20, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide