The Firemen's Ball
Seen it?1967 | 73 min | Comedy
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (91% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Sleeper, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Provocative satire that goes after everyone.
- The pace
- Breezy, at 1 hr 13 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in another language, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1967: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
The firemen of a provincial Czechoslovakian town throw a ball in honor of the old chief's retirement. There will be music and dancing, a beauty pageant and a raffle. The whole town will be in attendance. However, the proceedings are dogged by difficulty at every step. Workplace injuries, stolen prizes, a shortage of pretty girls... and fire.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
91% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.1 out of 10
- AwardsBelow par
Nominated for 1 Oscar.
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 31K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Miloš Forman
- Jan VostrčilHead of Committee
- Josef ŠebánekCommittee Member
- František DebelkaCommittee Member
- Josef ValnohaCommittee Member
- Ladislav AdamCommittee Member
- Vratislav ČermákCommittee Member
- Václav NovotnýCommittee Member
- František PaskaCommittee Member
- František ReinsteinCommittee Member
- Josef ŘehořekCommittee Member