Ball of Fire (1941)
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- Approved
- 1h 51min
- Comedy, Romance
- 09 Jan 1942 (USA)
- Movie
A group of professors working on a new encyclopedia while living in a Manhattan mansion take in a mouthy nightclub singer who is wanted by the police to help bring down her mob boss lover.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 1 win.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Gary Cooper | ... |
Prof. Bertram Potts
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| Barbara Stanwyck | ... |
Sugarpuss O'Shea
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| Oscar Homolka | ... |
Prof. Gurkakoff
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| Henry Travers | ... |
Prof. Jerome
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| S.Z. Sakall | ... |
Prof. Magenbruch
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| Tully Marshall | ... |
Prof. Robinson
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| Leonid Kinskey | ... |
Prof. Quintana
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| Richard Haydn | ... |
Prof. Oddly
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| Aubrey Mather | ... |
Prof. Peagram
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| Allen Jenkins | ... |
Garbage Man
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| Dana Andrews | ... |
Joe Lilac
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| Dan Duryea | ... |
Duke Pastrami
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| Ralph Peters | ... |
Asthma Anderson
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| Kathleen Howard | ... |
Miss Bragg
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| Mary Field | ... |
Miss Totten
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| Charles Lane | ... |
Larsen
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| Charles Arnt | ... |
McNeary
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| Elisha Cook Jr. | ... |
Waiter
(as Elisha Cook)
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Alan Rhein | ... |
'Horseface'
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Eddie Foster | ... |
Pinstripe
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| Aldrich Bowker | ... |
Justice of the Peace
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| Addison Richards | ... |
District Attorney
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Pat West | ... |
Bum
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| Kenneth Howell | ... |
College Boy
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| Tommy Ryan | ... |
Newsboy
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| Tim Ryan | ... |
Motor Cop
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| Will Lee | ... |
Benny, the Creep
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Gene Krupa and His Orchestra | ... |
Gene Krupa Orchestra
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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John Alban | ... |
Baseball Game Spectator (uncredited)
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George Barton | ... |
Garbage Man (uncredited)
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Tex Brodus | ... |
Passerby (uncredited)
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Doria Caron | ... |
Girl in Subway (uncredited)
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| Eddy Chandler | ... |
Cop on Garbage Truck (uncredited)
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| Ken Christy | ... |
Cop with Ms. Bragg (uncredited)
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| Edward Clark | ... |
Motor Court Proprietor (uncredited)
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| Ruth Clifford | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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Chet De Vito | ... |
Tollkeeper (uncredited)
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| Yvonne Duval | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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| Roy Eldridge | ... |
Trumpeter (uncredited)
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Geraldine Fissette | ... |
Hula Dancer (uncredited)
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| Pat Flaherty | ... |
Deputy (uncredited)
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Laura Gile | ... |
date of Prof. Bertram Potts (uncredited)
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George Golden | ... |
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
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June Harris | ... |
Nursemaid at Park (uncredited)
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Catherine Henderson | ... |
College Girl (uncredited)
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| Otto Hoffman | ... |
Stage Doorman (uncredited)
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| Gene Krupa | ... |
Gene Krupa - Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
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Merrillee Lannon | ... |
Girl in Subway (uncredited)
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| Ethelreda Leopold | ... |
Nursemaid at Park (uncredited)
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Jean MacMurray | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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| Joyce Mathews | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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| Hal McIntyre | ... |
Saxaphonist (uncredited)
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| Lorraine Miller | ... |
Girl in Café (uncredited)
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| Patsy Moran | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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Mike Morelli | ... |
Pool Hall Patron (uncredited)
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Mildred Morris | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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Edward Mundy | ... |
Spieler (uncredited)
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| William H. O'Brien | ... |
Baseball Game Spectator (uncredited)
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| Jack Perry | ... |
Pool Hall Patron (uncredited)
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Gerald Pierce | ... |
Delivery Boy (uncredited)
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| Lynne Roberts | ... |
Veiled woman in Gene Krupa's audience (uncredited)
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Francis Sayles | ... |
Taxi Driver (uncredited)
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Helen Seamon | ... |
College Girl (uncredited)
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George Sherwood | ... |
Deputy (uncredited)
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Walter Shumway | ... |
Garbageman (uncredited)
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| Bert Stevens | ... |
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
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| Russell Wade | ... |
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
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Chalky Williams | ... |
Cop (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Howard Hawks | ||
Written by
| Charles Brackett | ... | (screen play) and |
| Billy Wilder | ... | (screen play) |
| Billy Wilder | ... | (from an original story by) and |
| Thomas Monroe | ... | (from an original story by) |
Produced by
| Samuel Goldwyn | ... | producer |
Music by
| Alfred Newman | ||
Cinematography by
| Gregg Toland | ... | (photography) |
Editing by
| Daniel Mandell | ||
Art Direction by
| Perry Ferguson | ||
Set Decoration by
| Howard Bristol | ... | (set decorations) |
| Julia Heron | ... | (uncredited) |
Makeup Department
| Mel Berns | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Earl Rettig | ... | unit manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| William Tummel | ... | assistant director |
| Marty Moss | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
| Arthur Rosson | ... | second unit director (uncredited) |
| John Sherwood | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| McClure Capps | ... | associate art director |
| Irving W. Sindler | ... | property master (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Frank Maher | ... | sound technician |
| Thomas T. Moulton | ... | sound recordist (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| James V. Murray | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Edith Head | ... | costumer: Barbara Stanwyck |
| Eugene Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| David Buttolph | ... | composer: additional music (uncredited) |
| Martha Tilton | ... | singing voice: Barbara Stanwyck (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Samuel Goldwyn | ... | presenter |
| Nick Castle | ... | dance director (uncredited) |
| Jack Pollack | ... | supervising publicist (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- RKO Radio Pictures (1941) (United States) (theatrical) (as R K O Radio Pictures, Inc.) (released through)
- RKO Radio Pictures (1942) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- RKO Radio Films (1942) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Nederland NV (1946) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- RKO Radio Films A/S (1946) (Norway) (theatrical)
- International Pictures (1947) (Denmark) (theatrical)
- Les Artistes Associés (1948) (France) (theatrical)
- TWF (Trans World Films) (1948) (Italy) (theatrical)
- RKO Radio Films (1948) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Euro International Films (Italy) (theatrical) (reissue)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1982) (Finland) (tv)
- Embassy Home Entertainment (1987) (United States) (VHS)
- Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (1998) (United States) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (United States) (VHS)
- Topanga Canyon Films (2018) (Spain)
- HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- Blue Dolphin Film Distribution (1982) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (Re-issue)
- Selecciones Huguet (Spain) (theatrical)
- Jeunesse kikaku (2007) (Japan) (DVD)
- NHK-BS2 (1991) (Japan) (tv)
- Samuel Goldwyn Television (United States) (tv)
- Showcase Video (1984) (Australia) (video)
- The Criterion Channel (2022) (United States) (tv) (streaming)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (acknowledgement)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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 A.L.Beneteau |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | "I LOVE HIM because he doesn't know how to kiss -- THE JERK!" (print ad - Lubbock Morning Avalanche - Tech Theatre - Lubbock, Texas - April 22, 1942) See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | 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. See more » |
| Goofs | During the walk through central park, the camera shadow is visible on Professor Gurkakoff's torso. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Une histoire seule (1989). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Sweet Genevieve See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Opening credits prologue: Once upon a time - in 1941 to be exact - there lived in a great, tall forest - called New York - eight men who were writing an encyclopedia. They were so wise they knew everything: the depth of the oceans, and what makes a glowworm glow, and what tune Nero fiddles while Rome was burning. But there was one thing about which they knew very little - as you will see . . . See more » |
| Quotes |
[Professor Magenbrush says Sugarpuss has a slight rosiness at the back of her throat]
Sugarpuss O'Shea: SLIGHT rosiness? It's as red as The Daily Worker and just as sore! See more » |