Operation Mad Ball (1957)

Private Hogan must raise his ability to scheme and plot to a new level to put on a madcap dance to celebrate the closing of an Army surgical hospital in post WWII France while evading the ... See full summary »

Director:

Richard Quine

Writers:

Arthur Carter (screenplay), Jed Harris (screenplay),

Stars:

Jack Lemmon, Ernie Kovacs, Kathryn Grant

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jack Lemmon	...	Pvt. Hogan
Ernie Kovacs	...	Capt. Paul Lock
Kathryn Grant	...	Lt. Betty Bixby
Arthur O'Connell	...	Col. Rousch
Mickey Rooney	...	MSgt. Yancy Skibo
Dick York	...	Cpl. Bohun
James Darren	...	Pvt. Widowskas
Roger Smith	...	Cpl. Berryman
William Leslie	...	Pvt. Grimes
Sheridan Comerate	...	Sgt. Wilson
L.Q. Jones	...	Ozark
Jeanne Manet	...	Madame LaFour

Storyline

Private Hogan must raise his ability to scheme and plot to a new level to put on a madcap dance to celebrate the closing of an Army surgical hospital in post WWII France while evading the stickler-for-details Captain Locke - and win the heart to the beautiful nurse Lieutenant Betty Bixby.

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Plot Keywords:

nurse | tent city | balloon | deception | flashlight | 

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Taglines:

Filmed Entirely WITHOUT Army Coperation!

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Genres:

Comedy | War

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

17 August 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gynaikes sta opla

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

5' 2" Mickey Rooney dances with 5' 8" Marilyn Hanold, perhaps an intentional reprise of Rooney's scene in the 1946 picture, "Love Laughs at Andy Hardy," in which he dances with 6' 2"" Dorothy Ford.

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Connections

Referenced in What's My Line?: Episode dated 8 September 1957 (1957)

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Soundtracks

"In the Mood"
(uncredited)
Music by Joe Garland
Played while the band is being rehearsed and at the ball

User Reviews

Have a Ball with Jack & Co.!

Jack Lemmon, two years after winning an Oscar for "Mister Roberts," stars in the tale of Army hijinks just after the end of WWII somewhere in France. It's amazing to watch just how much influence he has and he's not even a superior officer. He's trying to organize a ball for the men before they get back to the states. For many, it may seem like why should we care. But, for those who are patient, it does get better as it goes along. Mickey Rooney shows up in the second half, who always is a "ball" waiting to happen. It may not be Lemmon's best material, but costarring Ernie Kovacs, Dick York, and Arthur O'Connell, it deserves to be seen more often.