Review of Ball of Fire (1941) by Monsieur R — 21 Jan 2011

Despite the reviews from RT, this film was pure corn (meaning..... stupid).

Slang is what this film is all about. The professors are given a mission and money to produce a modern encyclopedia. When they get to the letter 'S', they are stumped by the word "slang". They are so sheltered from the modern world they don't know street language.

Highly over rated by RT and the community alike, this one is one silly movie. The storyline is queer from the start. The credibility factor is zero. The acting, however, is anything but zero. All the cast is wonderful.

Its just the story. It is, especially in the end, stupid AND silly.

NOTES:

1) Based in part on the fairy tale Snow White. The professors themselves were based on the dwarfs from Walt Disney's animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

2) Ball of Fire was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Barbara Stanwyck), Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic Picture, Best Sound, Recording and Best Writing, Original Story.

Cast.

Barbara Stanwyck as Katherine 'Sugarpuss' O'Shea.

Gary Cooper as Professor Bertram Potts.

Oskar Homolka as Professor Gurkakoff.

Henry Travers as Professor Jerome.

S.Z. Sakall as Professor Magenbruch.

Tully Marshall as Professor Robinson.

Leonid Kinskey as Professor Quintana.

Richard Haydn as Professor Oddley.

Aubrey Mather as Professor Peagram.

Dana Andrews as Joe Lilac.

Dan Duryea as Duke Pastrami, one of Lilac's henchmen.

Ralph Peters as Asthma Anderson, the other henchman.

Kathleen Howard as Miss Bragg, the housekeeper.

Mary Field as Miss Totten, the financial backer.

Charles Lane as Larsen, Miss Totten's assistant.

Charles Arnt as McNeary, Lilac's lawyer.

Directed by Howard Hawks.

Produced by Samuel Goldwyn.

Written by Charles Brackett.

Billy Wilder.

Starring.

Gary Cooper.

Barbara Stanwyck.

Music by Alfred Newman.

Distributed by RKO Pictures.

Release date(s) December 2, 1941 (U.S. release).

Running time 111 min.