Ball of Fire (1941) | |
| Director(s) | Howard Hawks |
| Producer(s) | Samuel Goldwyn |
| Top Genres | Comedy, Crime, Romance |
| Top Topics | Gangsters, Professors, Romance (Comic), Screwball Comedy |
Featured Cast:
Ball of Fire Overview:
Ball of Fire (1941) was a Comedy - Romance Film directed by Howard Hawks and produced by Samuel Goldwyn.
SYNOPSIS
When Cooper and his sheltered, highbrow colleagues begin work on a new encyclopedia, he enlists the aid of Stanwyck to help explain slang, unaware that she is a gangster moll being hidden by her on-the-lam boyfriend. Stanwyck's earthiness soon captivates the sheltered professor, who learns to pitch woo and fists as well as slang. Wilder and Brackett were deservedly nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Story.
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
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Academy Awards 1941 --- Ceremony Number 14 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Actress | Barbara Stanwyck | Nominated |
| Best Music - Scoring | Alfred Newman | Nominated |
| Best Writing | Billy Wilder, Thomas Monroe | Nominated |
BlogHub Articles:
Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck are an unlikely pair in Howard Hawks’s “Ball of Fire”
By Stephen Reginald on Aug 26, 2021 From Classic Movie ManGary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck are an unlikely pair in Howard Hawks’s “Ball of Fire” Ball of Fire (1941) is an American romantic comedy directed by Howard Hawks and starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck. The screenplay was by Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder. The cinema... Read full article
COMEDY GOLD #11: The conga from Ball of Fire (1941)
By Carol Martinheira on Jan 16, 2019 From The Old Hollywood GardenCOMEDY GOLD #11: The conga from Ball of Fire (1941) On January 16, 2019January 16, 2019 By CarolIn Uncategorized Ball of Fire (dir. Howard Hawks, 1941) seems to be one of those movies that everybody loves. And why wouldn’t it be? It’s sweet, it’s roma... Read full article
Ball of Fire (1942)
By Cameron on Jul 12, 2017 From The Blonde At The Filmvia: http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/68020/Ball-of-Fire/#tcmarcp-173765 ?Unless otherwise noted, all images are my own. This charming film was written by two of the best, Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder, and directed by a master of the genre, Howard Hawks. The talent onscreen is just as formidable ... Read full article
Screening of "Ball of Fire" at Daystar Center June 10
By Stephen Reginald on Jun 6, 2017 From Classic Movie ManScreening of "Ball of Fire" at Daystar Center June 10 “Stanwyck on State Street” Series: Ball of Fire (1941) Where: Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street When: June 10, 2017 Time: 6:45 p.m. Hosted by Stephen Reginald New York Showgirl Sugarpuss O’Shea (Barbara Stanwyck) needs ... Read full article
The Nerdiest Scene Ever: Encyclopedia Writers Trumping Gangsters in Ball of Fire
By Judy on May 16, 2015 From Cary Grant Won't Eat YouThis post is part of the My Favorite Classic Movie Blogathon in celebration of National Classic Movie Day (May 16th). Click here to view the schedule listing all the great posts. Nerd alert: I used to sit in the basement, reading my parents? World Books for fun. I think it started with A Tale of Tw... Read full article
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Quotes from
Sugarpuss O'Shea: I love him because he's the kind of guy who gets drunk on a glass of buttermilk, and I love the way he blushes right up over his ears. I love him because he doesn't know how to kiss, the jerk!
Duke Pastrami: [Giving Sugarpuss O'Shea a message from Joe Lilac] He sends ya' a love message. He says to tell ya' he gets more bang outta' you than any dame he ever knew.
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Facts about
While filming the scene in which Potts declares his love for Sugarpuss in a dark hotel bungalow, Gregg Toland put Barbara Stanwyck in blackface to make sure that her eyes were shining through the darkness.
Kathleen Howard was left with a fractured jaw when the punch that Barbara Stanwyck threw accidentally made contact. Stanwyck was reportedly mortified by the incident.
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