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Ball of Fire
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Ball of Fire (1941) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.9/10   2,974 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 28% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Howard Hawks
Writers:
Charles Brackett (screenplay) &
Billy Wilder (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for Ball of Fire on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
2 December 1941 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Romance more
Tagline:
The New Year's red-hot comedy! more
Plot:
A group of ivory-tower lexicographers realize they need to hear how real people talk, and end up helping a beautiful singer escape from the Mob. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for 4 Oscars. more
User Comments:
ring of great "fire" more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Gary Cooper ... Professor Bertram 'Pottsie' Potts

Barbara Stanwyck ... Katherine 'Sugarpuss' O'Shea
Oskar Homolka ... Professor Gurkakoff - Mathematics
Henry Travers ... Professor Jerome - History
S.Z. Sakall ... Professor Magenbruch - Physiology
Tully Marshall ... Professor Robinson - Law
Leonid Kinskey ... Professor Quintana
Richard Haydn ... Professor Oddly - Botany
Aubrey Mather ... Professor Peagram - Literature
Allen Jenkins ... Garbageman

Dana Andrews ... Joe Lilac
Dan Duryea ... Duke Pastrami
Ralph Peters ... Asthma Anderson
Kathleen Howard ... Miss Bragg
Mary Field ... Miss Totten
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Professor and the Burlesque Queen
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Runtime:
111 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Billy Wilder had already written the story in Germany, then brought it to the USA when he emigrated and sold it to MGM. more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: During the walk through central park, the camera shadow is visible on Professor Gurkakoff's torso. more
Quotes:
Prof. Oddly: This is what you would call an "up-stick". more
Movie Connections:
References Sergeant York (1941) more
Soundtrack:
Drum Boogie more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
29 out of 32 people found the following comment useful:-
ring of great "fire", 16 July 2005
10/10
Author: Lee Eisenberg (eisenberg.lee@gmail.com) from Portland, Oregon, USA

"Ball of Fire" is known as the last great pre-war comedy, and with good reason. It all begins when a group of egghead professors are writing an encyclopedia. Then, grammarian Bertram Potts (Gary Cooper) realizes that he doesn't know any modern slang. Frequenting the nightclubs, he meets dancer Katherine "Sugarpuss" O'Shea (Barbara Stanwyck), who has a connection to the mob. This leads all the characters on the most unexpected adventure.

I really liked the way that every one of the nerdy professors is tempted to correct every mistake made by the others. But the gags throughout the movie are really something. Hilarious.

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