Ball of Fire

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

Jan 9 1942 Approved 1h 51m
Comedy, Romance

A group of academics have spent years shut up in a house working on the definitive encyclopedia. When one of them discovers that his entry on slang is hopelessly outdated, he ventures into the wide world to learn about the evolving language. Here he meets Sugarpuss O’Shea, a nightclub singer, who’s on top of all the slang—and, it just so happens, needs a place to stay.

Plot

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"!

Written by

Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, Thomas Monroe

Directed by

Howard Hawks

Cast

Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Oscar Homolka

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

Samuel Goldwyn Productions

Languages

English

Awards

Nominated for 4 Oscars. 4 wins & 4 nominations total

Trailers
Ball of Fire (1941) Official Trailer - Barbara Stanwyck Movie
Featurettes
Larry Karaszewski on BALL OF FIRE
Scores
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Average Rating
7.7 out of 10
Metascore
78
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