Ball of Fire (1941)

A group of ivory-tower lexicographers realize they need to hear how real people talk, and end up helping a beautiful singer avoid police and escape from the Mob.

Director:

Howard Hawks

Writers:

Charles Brackett (screenplay), Billy Wilder (screenplay),

Stars:

Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Oskar Homolka

Nominated for 4 Oscars.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gary Cooper	...	Prof. Bertram Potts
Barbara Stanwyck	...	Sugarpuss O'Shea
Oskar Homolka	...	Prof. Gurkakoff (as Oscar Homolka)
Henry Travers	...	Prof. Jerome
S.Z. Sakall	...	Prof. Magenbruch
Tully Marshall	...	Prof. Robinson
Leonid Kinskey	...	Prof. Quintana
Richard Haydn	...	Prof. Oddly
Aubrey Mather	...	Prof. Peagram
Allen Jenkins	...	Garbage Man
Dana Andrews	...	Joe Lilac
Dan Duryea	...	Duke Pastrami
Ralph Peters	...	Asthma Anderson
Kathleen Howard	...	Miss Bragg
Mary Field	...	Miss Totten

Storyline

Sexy, wisecracking nightclub singer Sugarpuss O'Shea is a hot tomato who needs to be kept on ice: mobster boyfriend Joe Lilac is suspected of murder and Sugarpuss' testimony could put him away. Naive Professor Bertram Potts meets Miss O'Shea while researching an article on slang and in true romantic comedy fashion the two worlds collide. When Miss O'Shea hides out with Potts and his fellow professors, everyone learns something new: the professors how to cha-cha and Potts the meaning of "yum-yum"!

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Plot Keywords:

professor | slang | nightclub | singer | marriage proposal | 

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Taglines:

"I LOVE HIM because he doesn't know how to kiss -- THE JERK!"

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 December 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Professor and the Burlesque Queen

Filming Locations:

Samuel Goldwyn Studios - 7200 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Gary Cooper is taking notes of the news boy's slang, the marquee on the theater across the street advertises Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, an inside joke that refers to the script's inspiration.

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Goofs

During the "Drumboogie" sequence, the black jazz trumpet soloist Roy Eldridge disappears from the band between shots.

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Quotes

Sugarpuss O'Shea: Hey, who decorated this place, the mug who shot Lincoln?

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Connections

References Sergeant York (1941)

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Soundtracks

"Drum Boogie"
(1941) (uncredited)
(Published as "Drumboogie")
Music and Lyrics by Roy Eldridge and Gene Krupa
Performed by Gene Krupa and His Orchestra
Sung by Barbara Stanwyck (dubbed by Martha Tilton)
Reprised by her and audience members

User Reviews

Stanwyck is the Devil

A mixture of innocence and passion make up what Ball of Fire is about. At times, this is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs with a giant ball of fire. Even for 1941, there are moments of sexy conduct that would make a modern day priest blush. Gry Cooper is the book worm as well as the snow white character. A 30 year old virgin professor, Cooper plays the role like he should, soft and quiet. Barbara Stanwyck, on the other hand, is as sexy as ever. Stanwyck had the reputation as the bad girl or the girl you do not bring home to mom. The two actors are exact opposite but in some way they fall for one another as the fairy tale has a happy ending. For the time period of World War 2, this is as good as it gets.