Ball of Fire
Seen it?1941 | 111 min | Comedy, Romance, Crime
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it drew serious awards attention. Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Aimed squarely at anyone fascinated by the criminal underworld and music lovers. A look inside a world of loyalty, money and betrayal. If you loved Take the Money and Run or Pillow Talk, start here. Critics like it more than audiences, which usually means it takes its time or takes risks.
- The mood
- Light and funny, romantic.
- The pace
- Zips along, at 1 hr 51 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1941: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
- Skip it if you're after something serious tonight.
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 When one of them discovers that his entry on slang is hopelessly outdated, he ventures into the wide world to learn about the evolving language.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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
100% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
Our audience score: 66%
- AwardsStrong
Nominated for 4 Oscars.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$3 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 68K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Take the Money and Run
Saturday SpecialAnother crime comedy that's easy to miss.
Pillow Talk Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed romantic comedy that fewer people know today.
A Night at the Roxbury
Weeknight WatchAnother romantic comedy, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Public Enemies Saturday SpecialAnother mob crime story, and a Saturday Special.
What's Love Got to Do with It? Weeknight WatchAnother romantic comedy, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
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Cast & crew
Directed by Howard Hawks
- Gary CooperProfessor Bertram Potts
- Barbara StanwyckSugarpuss O’Shea
- Oskar HomolkaProf. Gurkakoff
- Henry TraversProf. Jerome
- S.Z. SakallProf. Magenbruch
- Tully MarshallProf. Robinson
- Leonid KinskeyProf. Quintana
- Richard HaydnProf. Oddly
- Aubrey MatherProf. Peagram
- Allen JenkinsGarbage Man