Ball of Fire
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- For other things with similar names, see the disambiguation at fireball.
| Ball of Fire | |
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 Ball of Fire movie poster |
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| 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 Radio Pictures Inc. |
| Release date(s) | December 2, 1941 (U.S. release) |
| Running time | 111 min |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Ball of Fire (also known as The Professor and the Burlesque Queen) is a 1941 comedy film by Billy Wilder. The story of a group of stuffy professorial encyclopedists and their encounter with a nightclub performer, the film stars Gary Cooper ("Bertram Potts"), Barbara Stanwyck ("Sugarpuss"), Oskar Homolka, Henry Travers, Richard Haydn, Dana Andrews, Dan Duryea and Elisha Cook Jr..
The movie was written by Charles Brackett, Thomas Monroe, and Billy Wilder from a short story written while Wilder was still in Europe, and based in part on "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". Although ably directed by Howard Hawks, Wilder hereafter directed his own films. The film was also the second feature of 1941 to pair Cooper and Stanwyck, following Meet John Doe.
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[edit] Synopsis
A scholarly group of professors have secluded themselves for years to compile an encyclopedia of all human knowledge. Long accustomed to taking their time, they are now all business, as their backers press them to finish their work. The youngest, Professor Bertram Potts (Cooper), is a scholar of grammar and language who is researching modern slang.
Venturing outdoors to do some independent research, he develops an interest in the rich vocabulary of saucy burlesque performer "Sugarpuss" O'Shea (Stanwyck). She is reluctant to assist him in his research until she needs a place to hide from the police, who want to question her about her boyfriend, gangster Joe Lilac (Andrews). Sugarpuss takes refuge in the house where the professors live and work, all the while leaving them in the dark about her circumstances.
It isn't long before Sugarpuss turns the entire household upside down. The professors are enamored by this diamond in the rough, and she unexpectedly begins to become quite fond of them. She teaches them to cha cha and demonstrates to Bertram the meaning of the phrase "yum yum." She becomes attracted to Bertram, who reciprocates with a vengeance by awkwardly (and inadvertently) proposing to her. She accepts, but is promptly whisked away by Lilac's goons. It turns out that he also wants to marry her, but only so she can't testify against him.
An interesting run-around ensues, but eventually Bertram and the rest of the professors outwit Lilac and his men. When the dust settles, Sugarpuss decides she isn't good enough for Bertram, but his forceful use of "yum, yum" convinces her to change her mind.
[edit] Stylistic considerations
Hawks' use of mise en scene in this film contributes to the sense of character development and advancement of the narrative. The tightly packed workroom where the professors spend the majority of their time is indicative of the vast amount of knowledge held by each of the professors. Their workspace is clearly the center of their focus, and their lives revolve around it. Everything from the manner of dress to the general demeanor of the characters afford the viewer with clues about the character's nature. Sugarpuss's original manner of dress is extreme and reflects her free personality and suggests confidence in all areas. She exudes sexuality, and begins to win over the love of Prof. Bertram. In contrast, Bertram's particularly reserved manner of dress reflect his strait-laced personality. Unwilling to stray from his work, Bertram is prepared to put off his happiness with Sugarpuss in order to complete the encyclopedia. His stiff, uncomfortable stance also starkly contrasts Sugarpuss's relaxed demeanor. These elements of mise en scene are only a few of the cinematic qualities which enhance the storytelling process of Ball of Fire.
[edit] Awards
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.
[edit] Slang in the film
Examples of 1940s American slang used in the film:
- "yum yum" - kisses
- "shove in your clutch" - get lost
- "going like gangbusters" - still in contemporary use
- "crabapple annie" - a stuffy, prudish person
- "hold the phone" - shut up
[edit] Trivia
- Wilder reveled in poking fun at those who took politics too seriously. In Ball of Fire, burlesque queen 'Sugarpuss' points to her sore throat and complains "Pink? It's as red as the Daily Worker". Later, she gives the overbearing and unsmiling housekeeper the name 'Franco'.
- The personalities of the professors were modelled on Disney's seven dwarfs.
- Drummer and bandleader Gene Krupa made a memorable cameo appearance in the film performing the song "Drum Boogie" with his band. In an unusual twist, he also plays it on a matchbox with matches for drumsticks.
- In 1948, the plot was resurrected in a musical form for the movie A Song Is Born, starring Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo. Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and various other legendary musicians were featured.
