Ball of Fire: Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Oskar Homolka, Henry Travers, S.Z. Sakall, Tully Marshall, Leonid Kinskey, Richard Haydn, Aubrey Mather, Allen Jenkins, Dana Andrews, Dan Duryea, Gregg Toland, Howard Hawks, Daniel Mandell, Samuel Goldwyn, Billy Wilder, Charles Brackett, Thomas Monroe: Amazon.ca: Video

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Offering a screwball twist on the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, this delightful comedy has grown dated since its release in 1941, but that only adds to its everlasting charm. Written by the ace screenwriting team of Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett and directed by Howard Hawks, the movie presents a breezy case of opposites attracting when nightclub singer "Sugarpuss" O'Shea (Barbara Stanwyck) is recruited to teach jazzy slang to a group of culturally isolated professors. Gary Cooper plays Bertram Potts, the straight-laced scholar who's compiling slang for a new encyclopedia, and his equally stodgy colleagues are fascinated when Sugarpuss and "Pottsie" seem to be warming up for romance. Complications ensue when the savvy singer must distance herself from her mobster fiancé (Dana Andrews), and Ball of Fire takes a wacky turn when the klutzy intellectuals take on the mobster's henchmen. It's all a bit quaint by today's standards, but the movie's got a wealth of witty dialogue and sassy appeal, with Stanwyck leading the way in a role that's equal parts tough exterior and soft-hearted vulnerability. As a bonus, she performs a pair of rousing nightclub numbers (including a lively rendition of "Drum Boogie") with hopped-up drummer Gene Krupa and his orchestra. Ball of Fire was remade in 1948 as the Danny Kaye musical A Song is Born. This one's a real treat for fans of vintage Hollywood comedies. Don't miss it! --Jeff Shannon

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
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Average Customer Review

4.3 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars One of Stanwyck's Best, July 1 2000

By

James L. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ball of Fire (VHS Tape)

For me, the highlight of this terrific comedy is the perfect performance by Barbara Stanwyck. Although not a conventional beauty by Hollywood standards, she is very sexy and funny as nightclub singer Sugarpuss O'Shea, who ends up hiding out with eight stuffy professors writing up a new encyclopaedia. She needs to hide to protect her crook boyfriend Dana Andrews, and the professors want her there because she can explain to them the meanings behind modern slang, since the professors are anything but hip and modern. Gary Cooper plays the professor responsible for the language sections of the encyclopaedia, and he quickly falls in love with her. Of course, numerous complications arise. Stanwyck, one of classic film's most versatile actresses, is terrific, and all of the professors (including Cooper) deliver warm, affectionate performances. The scene where Stanwyck gets them dancing is hilarious. This is classic comedy has been somewhat overlooked, but don't miss a chance to watch it.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Great 40's comedy, Jun 7 2004

By

Nancy Tannenbaum (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ball of Fire (VHS Tape)

For anyone who only associates Barbara Stanwyck with television's "The Big Valley" series, this movie should provide some good insight into just how talented this actress was. Barbara Stanwyck was a top star during the forties, and her versatility was amazing. "Ball of Fire" showcases her marvelous comedic talents. It also gives viewers a glimpse of just how wonderful these "old" movies really are. Gary Cooper and Stanwyck had a great on-screen chemistry. But the most surprising thing is how sexy Barbara Stanwyck was on that screen. She was positively luminous. See this movie and judge for yourself. Today's movies are positively sordid by comparison.

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5.0 out of 5 stars A Stanwyck masterpiece, Sep 18 2001

By

Karl Stahmer (Wausau, WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Ball of Fire (VHS Tape)

Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper are perfectly cast as Sugarpuss O'Shea and Professor Bertram Potts. Potts and seven other erudite, academically entrenched professors are creating a new encyclopedia. Their residence is the perfect hiding place for Sugarpuss, when her gangster boy friend (played by Dana Andrews) forces her to go on the lam in order to avoid a subpoena. Using subterfuge and feminine wiles, she easily convinces the professors to let her stay with them. Her pretence being that linguist Potts will benefit from her expertise with modern (1941) slang. After a lifetime of academic isolation, Potts is attracted by her worldly sophistication and insouciance. This attraction rapidly turns into love, and this feeling becomes mutual. "Ball of Fire" is an exceptional movie. Let's not spoil it by revealing too much. If you haven't seen "Ball of Fire", it's well worth seeing. It's so outstanding that one viewing is not enough.

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Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Who says scholarly reseach is cut and dried?
When Gary Cooper (!) and the other scholars at work on the next issue of the encyclopedia realize that they need a consultant about slang, they are lucky enough to encounter... Read more

Published on Aug 12 2001 by Linda McDonnell

4.0 out of 5 stars A thoroughly delightful comedy.
A gangster's moll (Barbara Stanwyck) gets involved with eight stodgy professors who are writing an encyclopedia, and plenty of funny complications ensue. Read more

Published on Jun 10 2001 by Marc Russell