Ball of Fire

Ball of Fire


Starring:Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Oskar Homolka, Henry Travers, S.Z. Sakall, Tully Marshall, Leonid Kinskey, Richard Haydn, Aubrey Mather, Allen Jenkins, Dana Andrews, Dan Duryea, Ralph Peters, Kathleen Howard, Mary Field, Charles Lane, Charles Arnt, Elisha Cook Jr., Alan Rhein, Eddie Foster
Director: Howard Hawks
Studio: Hbo Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com essential video
Offering a screwball twist on the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, this delightful comedy has grown dated since its release in 1941, but that only adds to its everlasting charm. Written by the ace screenwriting team of Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett and directed by Howard Hawks, the movie presents a breezy case of opposites attracting when nightclub singer "Sugarpuss" O'Shea (Barbara Stanwyck) is recruited to teach jazzy slang to a group of culturally isolated professors. Gary Cooper plays Bertram Potts, the straight-laced scholar who's compiling slang for a new encyclopedia, and his equally stodgy colleagues are fascinated when Sugarpuss and "Pottsie" seem to be warming up for romance. Complications ensue when the savvy singer must distance herself from her mobster fiancé (Dana Andrews), and Ball of Fire takes a wacky turn when the klutzy intellectuals take on the mobster's henchmen. It's all a bit quaint by today's standards, but the movie's got a wealth of witty dialogue and sassy appeal, with Stanwyck leading the way in a role that's equal parts tough exterior and soft-hearted vulnerability. As a bonus, she performs a pair of rousing nightclub numbers (including a lively rendition of "Drum Boogie") with hopped-up drummer Gene Krupa and his orchestra. Ball of Fire was remade in 1948 as the Danny Kaye musical A Song is Born. This one's a real treat for fans of vintage Hollywood comedies. Don't miss it! --Jeff Shannon
Ball of Fire
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Stanwyck and Cooper light up the screen with shades of "Pygmalion" and "Snow White"
  • I know I'm in the minority here . . .
  • Ball of Fire
  • A Stanwyck Hit
  • Ball of Fire
 Ball of Fire
Starring: Gary Cooper , Barbara Stanwyck , Oskar Homolka , Henry Travers , and S.Z. Sakall
Director: Howard Hawks
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

GeneralGeneral | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video
ComedyComedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video
Andrews, DanaAndrews, Dana | ( A ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Cooper, GaryCooper, Gary | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Duryea, DanDuryea, Dan | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Haydn, RichardHaydn, Richard | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Howard, KathleenHoward, Kathleen | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Jenkins, AllenJenkins, Allen | ( J ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Kinskey, LeonidKinskey, Leonid | ( K ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Lane, CharlesLane, Charles | ( L ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Marshall, TullyMarshall, Tully | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Mather, AubreyMather, Aubrey | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Peters, RalphPeters, Ralph | ( P ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Stanwyck, BarbaraStanwyck, Barbara | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Travers, HenryTravers, Henry | ( T ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Hawks, HowardHawks, Howard | ( H ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
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Similar Items:
  1. Unconquered (Universal Cinema Classics)
  2. Jane Eyre
  3. So Proudly We Hail (Universal Cinema Classics)
  4. The Wedding Night
  5. Casanova Brown

ASIN: B000NIBUT4
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Amazon.com essential video

Offering a screwball twist on the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, this delightful comedy has grown dated since its release in 1941, but that only adds to its everlasting charm. Written by the ace screenwriting team of Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett and directed by Howard Hawks, the movie presents a breezy case of opposites attracting when nightclub singer "Sugarpuss" O'Shea (Barbara Stanwyck) is recruited to teach jazzy slang to a group of culturally isolated professors. Gary Cooper plays Bertram Potts, the straight-laced scholar who's compiling slang for a new encyclopedia, and his equally stodgy colleagues are fascinated when Sugarpuss and "Pottsie" seem to be warming up for romance. Complications ensue when the savvy singer must distance herself from her mobster fiancé (Dana Andrews), and Ball of Fire takes a wacky turn when the klutzy intellectuals take on the mobster's henchmen. It's all a bit quaint by today's standards, but the movie's got a wealth of witty dialogue and sassy appeal, with Stanwyck leading the way in a role that's equal parts tough exterior and soft-hearted vulnerability. As a bonus, she performs a pair of rousing nightclub numbers (including a lively rendition of "Drum Boogie") with hopped-up drummer Gene Krupa and his orchestra. Ball of Fire was remade in 1948 as the Danny Kaye musical A Song is Born. This one's a real treat for fans of vintage Hollywood comedies. Don't miss it! --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Stanwyck and Cooper light up the screen with shades of "Pygmalion" and "Snow White".......2007-06-12

A burlesque performer on the lam becomes the unexpected muse for a strait-laced professor in Billy Wilder's sparkling 1941 comedy, BALL OF FIRE.

When a group of stuffy bachelor professors are compiling a new encyclopedia, they find trouble writing about modern slang. Professor Bertram Potts (Gary Cooper) scouts the streets of New York to find willing people to help in their research. A visit to a nightclub reveals Sugarpuss O'Shea (Barbara Stanwyck) performing the rousing "Drum Boogie". Potts realises that here is the ideal expert who can lead him through the difficult world of the modern speech. But Sugarpuss is being pursued by the police...and the Mob!

Cooper and Stanwyck give off a splendid chemistry here after previously being paired in Frank Capra's Meet John Doe earlier in 1941. Legend has it that Lucille Ball was originally mentioned for the role of Sugarpuss, but it's hard to imagine anyone being better than Stanwyck, who gives a spirited performance (for another slice of Barbara in a similar role, be sure to see the hilarious Barbara Stanwyck: Lady of Burlesque).

The other professors are played by legendary character actors S.Z. "Cuddles" Sakall, Richard Haydn, Oscar Homolka, Henry Travers, Tully Marshall, Aubrey Mather and Leonid Kinskey.

So great to see BALL OF FIRE firmly on DVD. This has been issued as part of the new MGM Movie Classics series along with three other Gary Cooper titles (Casanova Brown, The Wedding Night, and The Adventures of Marco Polo).

(Single-sided, single-layer disc).

2 out of 5 stars I know I'm in the minority here . . ........2007-06-11

. . .but I didn't care that much for "Ball of Fire". I was expecting something like "Bringing Up Baby" or "The Awful Truth"--classic screwball comedies--but "Ball of Fire" just doesn't compare to those two. However, Barbara Stanwyck is marvelous in the film--she's terrific with her comic timing and her flashy clothes. Unfortunately, Gary Cooper is no Cary Grant. His stiff character isn't amusing--and all of the rest of his writing cronies got on my nerves after awhile. I wanted to laugh, but I just didn't find the film all that funny except for a few of Ms. Stanwyck's lines. I give it two stars for her performance--but I'd recommend renting two of her other films--"Christmas in Connecticut" and "Sorry, Wrong Number"--both of which I enjoyed far more than "Ball of Fire".

4 out of 5 stars Ball of Fire.......2007-06-11

This is a remake of a remake, because the plot is so great. The best thing is Danny Kaye did a remake about 9 years later "A Song is Born" - I bought this film so I could watch the 2 together, but "A Song is Born" is only available in VHS. The only problem is it comes in Black and White.

3 out of 5 stars A Stanwyck Hit.......2007-06-10

Very cute movie; a bit unrealistic, but cute. Barbara Stanwyck's comedic talents are superb. However, I do think Gary Cooper was miscast as a brilliant professor. His acting is stilted and vocabulary way beyond what is expected from a sheriff protecting his town in High Noon. The rest of the cast is hilarious and lovable. This movie is worth a watch and a chuckle.

4 out of 5 stars Ball of Fire.......2007-06-06

Aw shucks. It's Barbara Stanwyck and The Coop. Forget the rip off lack of extras and the definitely shoddy/mushy quality of the copy: it's The Miss for Heavens' sake! It's about great film and great acting, about one of filmdom's most under-rated -Barbara Stanwyck- and and one of it's often over-rated - Gary Cooper (very good, yes, but compared to La Stanwyck: give me a break!!). This is an enduring bit of whimsy, an intelligent and witty film. I first saw it in 1966, when I was 14 years old. Decades later, I find it is still delightfully fresh and timeless. I waited for a decade for this copy to become available on dvd; forgive me for being grateful!
Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues - Warming by the Devil's Fire
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues - Warming by the Devil's Fire
    Starring: Marcia Ball , Chris Barber (II) , Chester Burnett , Clint Eastwood , and Chris Farlowe
    Director: Clint Eastwood , Charles Burnett , Mike Figgis , Marc Levin , and Richard Pearce
    Manufacturer: Sony
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

    GeneralGeneral | Blues | Styles | Music
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    Figgis, MikeFiggis, Mike | ( F ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
    Pearce, RichardPearce, Richard | ( P ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
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    Wenders, WimWenders, Wim | ( W ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
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    1. Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues - The Road to Memphis
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    5. Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues - Red, White & Blues

    ASIN: B00020X9DI
    Release Date: 2004-05-11
    Ball of Fire
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Stanwyck and Cooper light up the screen with shades of "Pygmalion" and "Snow White"
    • I know I'm in the minority here . . .
    • Ball of Fire
    • A Stanwyck Hit
    • Ball of Fire
    		 Ball of Fire
    Starring: Gary Cooper , Barbara Stanwyck , Oskar Homolka , Henry Travers , and S.Z. Sakall
    Director: Howard Hawks
    Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

    GeneralGeneral | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video
    Eccentric FamiliesEccentric Families | By Theme | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video
    Culture ClashCulture Clash | By Theme | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video
    Fish Out of WaterFish Out of Water | By Theme | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video
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    Andrews, DanaAndrews, Dana | ( A ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
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    Duryea, DanDuryea, Dan | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Haydn, RichardHaydn, Richard | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Howard, KathleenHoward, Kathleen | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Jenkins, AllenJenkins, Allen | ( J ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Kinskey, LeonidKinskey, Leonid | ( K ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Lane, CharlesLane, Charles | ( L ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Marshall, TullyMarshall, Tully | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Mather, AubreyMather, Aubrey | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Peters, RalphPeters, Ralph | ( P ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Stanwyck, BarbaraStanwyck, Barbara | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
    Travers, HenryTravers, Henry | ( T ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
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    ASIN: 6305047510
    Release Date: 1998-08-25

    Amazon.com essential video

    Offering a screwball twist on the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, this delightful comedy has grown dated since its release in 1941, but that only adds to its everlasting charm. Written by the ace screenwriting team of Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett and directed by Howard Hawks, the movie presents a breezy case of opposites attracting when nightclub singer "Sugarpuss" O'Shea (Barbara Stanwyck) is recruited to teach jazzy slang to a group of culturally isolated professors. Gary Cooper plays Bertram Potts, the straight-laced scholar who's compiling slang for a new encyclopedia, and his equally stodgy colleagues are fascinated when Sugarpuss and "Pottsie" seem to be warming up for romance. Complications ensue when the savvy singer must distance herself from her mobster fiancé (Dana Andrews), and Ball of Fire takes a wacky turn when the klutzy intellectuals take on the mobster's henchmen. It's all a bit quaint by today's standards, but the movie's got a wealth of witty dialogue and sassy appeal, with Stanwyck leading the way in a role that's equal parts tough exterior and soft-hearted vulnerability. As a bonus, she performs a pair of rousing nightclub numbers (including a lively rendition of "Drum Boogie") with hopped-up drummer Gene Krupa and his orchestra. Ball of Fire was remade in 1948 as the Danny Kaye musical A Song is Born. This one's a real treat for fans of vintage Hollywood comedies. Don't miss it! --Jeff Shannon

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Stanwyck and Cooper light up the screen with shades of "Pygmalion" and "Snow White".......2007-06-12

    A burlesque performer on the lam becomes the unexpected muse for a strait-laced professor in Billy Wilder's sparkling 1941 comedy, BALL OF FIRE.

    When a group of stuffy bachelor professors are compiling a new encyclopedia, they find trouble writing about modern slang. Professor Bertram Potts (Gary Cooper) scouts the streets of New York to find willing people to help in their research. A visit to a nightclub reveals Sugarpuss O'Shea (Barbara Stanwyck) performing the rousing "Drum Boogie". Potts realises that here is the ideal expert who can lead him through the difficult world of the modern speech. But Sugarpuss is being pursued by the police...and the Mob!

    Cooper and Stanwyck give off a splendid chemistry here after previously being paired in Frank Capra's Meet John Doe earlier in 1941. Legend has it that Lucille Ball was originally mentioned for the role of Sugarpuss, but it's hard to imagine anyone being better than Stanwyck, who gives a spirited performance (for another slice of Barbara in a similar role, be sure to see the hilarious Barbara Stanwyck: Lady of Burlesque).

    The other professors are played by legendary character actors S.Z. "Cuddles" Sakall, Richard Haydn, Oscar Homolka, Henry Travers, Tully Marshall, Aubrey Mather and Leonid Kinskey.

    So great to see BALL OF FIRE firmly on DVD. This has been issued as part of the new MGM Movie Classics series along with three other Gary Cooper titles (Casanova Brown, The Wedding Night, and The Adventures of Marco Polo).

    (Single-sided, single-layer disc).

    2 out of 5 stars I know I'm in the minority here . . ........2007-06-11

    . . .but I didn't care that much for "Ball of Fire". I was expecting something like "Bringing Up Baby" or "The Awful Truth"--classic screwball comedies--but "Ball of Fire" just doesn't compare to those two. However, Barbara Stanwyck is marvelous in the film--she's terrific with her comic timing and her flashy clothes. Unfortunately, Gary Cooper is no Cary Grant. His stiff character isn't amusing--and all of the rest of his writing cronies got on my nerves after awhile. I wanted to laugh, but I just didn't find the film all that funny except for a few of Ms. Stanwyck's lines. I give it two stars for her performance--but I'd recommend renting two of her other films--"Christmas in Connecticut" and "Sorry, Wrong Number"--both of which I enjoyed far more than "Ball of Fire".

    4 out of 5 stars Ball of Fire.......2007-06-11

    This is a remake of a remake, because the plot is so great. The best thing is Danny Kaye did a remake about 9 years later "A Song is Born" - I bought this film so I could watch the 2 together, but "A Song is Born" is only available in VHS. The only problem is it comes in Black and White.

    3 out of 5 stars A Stanwyck Hit.......2007-06-10

    Very cute movie; a bit unrealistic, but cute. Barbara Stanwyck's comedic talents are superb. However, I do think Gary Cooper was miscast as a brilliant professor. His acting is stilted and vocabulary way beyond what is expected from a sheriff protecting his town in High Noon. The rest of the cast is hilarious and lovable. This movie is worth a watch and a chuckle.

    4 out of 5 stars Ball of Fire.......2007-06-06

    Aw shucks. It's Barbara Stanwyck and The Coop. Forget the rip off lack of extras and the definitely shoddy/mushy quality of the copy: it's The Miss for Heavens' sake! It's about great film and great acting, about one of filmdom's most under-rated -Barbara Stanwyck- and and one of it's often over-rated - Gary Cooper (very good, yes, but compared to La Stanwyck: give me a break!!). This is an enduring bit of whimsy, an intelligent and witty film. I first saw it in 1966, when I was 14 years old. Decades later, I find it is still delightfully fresh and timeless. I waited for a decade for this copy to become available on dvd; forgive me for being grateful!
    Ball of Fire (The Professor and the Burlesque Queen) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.0 Import - Spain ]
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Ball of Fire (The Professor and the Burlesque Queen) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.0 Import - Spain ]
      Director: Howard Hawks
      Manufacturer: GlobalVideo
      ProductGroup: DVD
      Binding: DVD

      GeneralGeneral | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
      GeneralGeneral | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
      ASIN: B000N1E67Y

      Product Description

      Spain released, PAL/Region 0 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0), SYNOPSIS: Ball of Fire is a delightful retelling (by Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett) of the "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" legend -- though strictly for grownups. Gary Cooper is the youngest of eight bookish professors authoring an encyclopedia. They find a perfect "research associate" in the curvaceous form of stripteaser Barbara Stanwyck, who (chastely) hides on the professors' domicile to escape her gangster boyfriend (Dana Andrews). As Stanwyck interprets various slang expression, she and the professors grow quite fond of one another; she brings out their sentimental sides, while they revive her essential decency. Naturally, Cooper is the one most smitten, though he hides his true feelings until the inevitable clinch. When gangster Andrews and his torpedo Dan Duryea show up to claim Stanwyck (Andrews wants to marry her so she can't testify against him), the professors save the day and it is Cooper who ends up with the beautiful Stanwyck. For the record, two of the "ancient" professors are Richard Haydn and O.Z. Whitehead, still in their mid-thirties (the others are S.Z. Sakall, Tully Marshall, Oscar Homolka, Leonid Kinskey and Aubrey Mather). Producer Sam Goldwyn later remade Ball of Fire as a Danny Kaye musical, A Song is Born (1948). SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu,
      Richard Scarry's Best Silly Stories and Songs Video Ever!
      Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
      • Richard Scarry's Best Silly Stories and Songs Video Ever
      • Great for 4 year olds, especially those who love Richard Scarry!
      • Richard Scarry's WORST Silly Stories and Songs Video Ever!
      • Great for a wide age range
      • Sweet, innocent, simple, captivating
      		 Richard Scarry's Best Silly Stories and Songs Video Ever!
      Starring: Keith Knight (II) , Sonja Ball , Tara Meyer , Kim Kuhteubl , and Lisa Yamanaka
      Director: Greg Bailey (II)
      Manufacturer: Sony Wonder (Video)
      ProductGroup: DVD
      Binding: DVD

      AnimationAnimation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video
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      5. Richard Scarry's What Do People Do All Day

      ASIN: B000069HY9
      Release Date: 2002-08-13

      Amazon.com

      A big hit with kids as young as 2 years old (though preschoolers tend to find it absolutely hilarious), Best Silly Stories and Videos begins with Huckle Cat and Lowly Worm making their way to a library, where they check out a book about silly stories, three of which come to life. Forgetful Mr. Rabbit strolls into fresh tar, extracts himself, and vows never to ignore his surroundings again--all while heading toward the edge of a dock. The next tale is a series classic about the incompetent Mr. Fix-It and his confusion over sorting out the pieces of broken toys. (He manages to make a cuckoo clock ring like a bell, a fire truck cry "Mama," and a doll screech like a siren.) The last vignette concerns a father and his twin children, who get into numerous misadventures when Dad leaves his glasses behind somewhere. Kids love it when they see the hapless pop mistake a succession of vehicles--including a fire truck and a banana mobile--for his own car. The songs scattered throughout this video also have comic appeal. --Tom Keogh

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Richard Scarry's Best Silly Stories and Songs Video Ever.......2006-11-10

      This is one of the best children's videos that we have. Our three year old grandson loves the characters and sits quietly while watching it. It is excellent for pre bedtime or anytime he needs to rest. The songs are memorable and the little characters are sweet and polite.

      5 out of 5 stars Great for 4 year olds, especially those who love Richard Scarry!.......2006-02-25

      My 4 year old son loves these videos, we had owned all but this one. He watches this one over and over because the stories in this video are in his books, so now he sees them 'come to life' on tv. Highly recommend these videos as they contain nice gentle songs and dialogue. Very relaxing to watch for my son and not annoying for me.

      1 out of 5 stars Richard Scarry's WORST Silly Stories and Songs Video Ever!.......2005-08-07

      I love Busytown, but this has got to be one of the worst Busytown videos ever! One of us was always scared of the Mr. Fix-It part. The problem was we only had one television, so my sisters had to always watch it downstairs while I was downstairs. I think Mr. Fix-It should learn how to fix things correctly, don't you agree? I reccomend the Counting video and the Spelling Bee video for kids instead of this haunted Mr. Fix-It movie.

      5 out of 5 stars Great for a wide age range.......2005-07-11

      Both my kids love this DVD. It appeals to ages 1-7 and keeps them happy and quiet for a long time. Yeah!

      5 out of 5 stars Sweet, innocent, simple, captivating.......2003-05-05

      I started out by buying Richard Scarry's counting DVD. I loved it so much, I bought all the rest (minus the nursery rhymes DVD). My 2-year-old son really enjoys watching the movie, as does my 6-month-old daughter. I personally enjoy the DVD and its innocence. I like that it is simple yet captivating for them. It really holds their attention. I tend to be pretty particular when it comes to movies for my children, making sure they don't teach any bad habits and that it doesn't teach anything contrary to the Bible. I was very pleased to see there wasn't any reference to magic, fairies, etc, as many things tend to include such references these days.
      A Song Is Born (Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo) IMPORT DVD
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		A Song Is Born (Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo) IMPORT DVD
        Starring: Virginia Mayo
        Director: Howard Hawks
        ProductGroup: DVD
        Binding: DVD

        GeneralGeneral | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
        GeneralGeneral | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
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        1. Wonder Man [Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo]
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        5. On the Riviera

        Product Features:
        • IMPORT EDITION
        • COLOR
        • FULL SCREEN
        • NTSC

        ASIN: B000J44HW4

        Product Description

        A mere six years after Howard Hawks made "Ball of Fire" with Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck, Producer Samuel Goldwyn engaged Hawks to make a new, musical version of the story, this time starring Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo. Kaye plays Professor Hobart Frisbee, a naïve music scholar who, together with six other musicologists, is studying a strange new phenomenon known as jazz. While doing his research, Frisbee meets gangster moll Honey Swanson, a beautiful, tough-talking night club entertainer on the lam, who decides that the house where the seven scholars live would make for a great hide-out. So while the cops are searching for her to testify against her beau, she goes home with Frisbee and the gang. And Honey turns out to be just what this group of stodgy professors needs... as the house starts swinging and rocking with the sounds of jazz. That is, until her gangster boyfriend comes around to ruin the party.
        Ball of Fire
        Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
        • Stanwyck and Cooper light up the screen with shades of "Pygmalion" and "Snow White"
        • I know I'm in the minority here . . .
        • Ball of Fire
        • A Stanwyck Hit
        • Ball of Fire
        		 Ball of Fire
        Starring: Gary Cooper , Barbara Stanwyck , Oskar Homolka , Henry Travers , and S.Z. Sakall
        Director: Howard Hawks
        Manufacturer: Import [Generic]
        ProductGroup: DVD
        Binding: DVD

        GeneralGeneral | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video
        Eccentric FamiliesEccentric Families | By Theme | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video
        Culture ClashCulture Clash | By Theme | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video
        Fish Out of WaterFish Out of Water | By Theme | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video
        Opposites AttractOpposites Attract | By Theme | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video
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        Andrews, DanaAndrews, Dana | ( A ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Cooper, GaryCooper, Gary | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Duryea, DanDuryea, Dan | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Haydn, RichardHaydn, Richard | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Howard, KathleenHoward, Kathleen | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Jenkins, AllenJenkins, Allen | ( J ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Kinskey, LeonidKinskey, Leonid | ( K ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Lane, CharlesLane, Charles | ( L ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Marshall, TullyMarshall, Tully | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Mather, AubreyMather, Aubrey | ( M ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Peters, RalphPeters, Ralph | ( P ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Stanwyck, BarbaraStanwyck, Barbara | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Travers, HenryTravers, Henry | ( T ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
        Hawks, HowardHawks, Howard | ( H ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
        ( B )( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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        ASIN: B00005Y8MX
        Release Date: 2001-11-13

        Amazon.com essential video

        Offering a screwball twist on the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, this delightful comedy has grown dated since its release in 1941, but that only adds to its everlasting charm. Written by the ace screenwriting team of Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett and directed by Howard Hawks, the movie presents a breezy case of opposites attracting when nightclub singer "Sugarpuss" O'Shea (Barbara Stanwyck) is recruited to teach jazzy slang to a group of culturally isolated professors. Gary Cooper plays Bertram Potts, the straight-laced scholar who's compiling slang for a new encyclopedia, and his equally stodgy colleagues are fascinated when Sugarpuss and "Pottsie" seem to be warming up for romance. Complications ensue when the savvy singer must distance herself from her mobster fiancé (Dana Andrews), and Ball of Fire takes a wacky turn when the klutzy intellectuals take on the mobster's henchmen. It's all a bit quaint by today's standards, but the movie's got a wealth of witty dialogue and sassy appeal, with Stanwyck leading the way in a role that's equal parts tough exterior and soft-hearted vulnerability. As a bonus, she performs a pair of rousing nightclub numbers (including a lively rendition of "Drum Boogie") with hopped-up drummer Gene Krupa and his orchestra. Ball of Fire was remade in 1948 as the Danny Kaye musical A Song is Born. This one's a real treat for fans of vintage Hollywood comedies. Don't miss it! --Jeff Shannon

        Customer Reviews:

        4 out of 5 stars Stanwyck and Cooper light up the screen with shades of "Pygmalion" and "Snow White".......2007-06-12

        A burlesque performer on the lam becomes the unexpected muse for a strait-laced professor in Billy Wilder's sparkling 1941 comedy, BALL OF FIRE.

        When a group of stuffy bachelor professors are compiling a new encyclopedia, they find trouble writing about modern slang. Professor Bertram Potts (Gary Cooper) scouts the streets of New York to find willing people to help in their research. A visit to a nightclub reveals Sugarpuss O'Shea (Barbara Stanwyck) performing the rousing "Drum Boogie". Potts realises that here is the ideal expert who can lead him through the difficult world of the modern speech. But Sugarpuss is being pursued by the police...and the Mob!

        Cooper and Stanwyck give off a splendid chemistry here after previously being paired in Frank Capra's Meet John Doe earlier in 1941. Legend has it that Lucille Ball was originally mentioned for the role of Sugarpuss, but it's hard to imagine anyone being better than Stanwyck, who gives a spirited performance (for another slice of Barbara in a similar role, be sure to see the hilarious Barbara Stanwyck: Lady of Burlesque).

        The other professors are played by legendary character actors S.Z. "Cuddles" Sakall, Richard Haydn, Oscar Homolka, Henry Travers, Tully Marshall, Aubrey Mather and Leonid Kinskey.

        So great to see BALL OF FIRE firmly on DVD. This has been issued as part of the new MGM Movie Classics series along with three other Gary Cooper titles (Casanova Brown, The Wedding Night, and The Adventures of Marco Polo).

        (Single-sided, single-layer disc).

        2 out of 5 stars I know I'm in the minority here . . ........2007-06-11

        . . .but I didn't care that much for "Ball of Fire". I was expecting something like "Bringing Up Baby" or "The Awful Truth"--classic screwball comedies--but "Ball of Fire" just doesn't compare to those two. However, Barbara Stanwyck is marvelous in the film--she's terrific with her comic timing and her flashy clothes. Unfortunately, Gary Cooper is no Cary Grant. His stiff character isn't amusing--and all of the rest of his writing cronies got on my nerves after awhile. I wanted to laugh, but I just didn't find the film all that funny except for a few of Ms. Stanwyck's lines. I give it two stars for her performance--but I'd recommend renting two of her other films--"Christmas in Connecticut" and "Sorry, Wrong Number"--both of which I enjoyed far more than "Ball of Fire".

        4 out of 5 stars Ball of Fire.......2007-06-11

        This is a remake of a remake, because the plot is so great. The best thing is Danny Kaye did a remake about 9 years later "A Song is Born" - I bought this film so I could watch the 2 together, but "A Song is Born" is only available in VHS. The only problem is it comes in Black and White.

        3 out of 5 stars A Stanwyck Hit.......2007-06-10

        Very cute movie; a bit unrealistic, but cute. Barbara Stanwyck's comedic talents are superb. However, I do think Gary Cooper was miscast as a brilliant professor. His acting is stilted and vocabulary way beyond what is expected from a sheriff protecting his town in High Noon. The rest of the cast is hilarious and lovable. This movie is worth a watch and a chuckle.

        4 out of 5 stars Ball of Fire.......2007-06-06

        Aw shucks. It's Barbara Stanwyck and The Coop. Forget the rip off lack of extras and the definitely shoddy/mushy quality of the copy: it's The Miss for Heavens' sake! It's about great film and great acting, about one of filmdom's most under-rated -Barbara Stanwyck- and and one of it's often over-rated - Gary Cooper (very good, yes, but compared to La Stanwyck: give me a break!!). This is an enduring bit of whimsy, an intelligent and witty film. I first saw it in 1966, when I was 14 years old. Decades later, I find it is still delightfully fresh and timeless. I waited for a decade for this copy to become available on dvd; forgive me for being grateful!

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