Overview
A wisecracking nightclub singer finds herself hiding out with a group of professors, leading to unexpected romance and chaos.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- irreverent
- breezy
- classic movie night
- date night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a highly funny, expertly crafted screwball romance elevated by the ideal chemistry of Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Professor Potts and his colleagues have spent years compiling an encyclopedia but must learn slang directly from Sugarpuss and the nightclub world.
A sheltered professor and a wisecracking nightclub singer are forced into close quarters while navigating gangsters and academic routines.
Sugarpuss hides among the professors to avoid Joe Lilac and possible testimony against him, turning the academic residence into a comic refuge.
The seven professors' encyclopedia project and sheltered habits provide the comic group dynamic that Sugarpuss unsettles.
Films like Ball of Fire, and why
It Happened One Night
screwball romantic comedy pairing opposites whose social worlds collide through fast dialogue and escalating deception
His Girl Friday
classic romantic comedy driven by witty banter, contrasting personalities, and a forceful female lead
The Lady Eve
romantic farce combining criminal complications, comic concealment, and charismatic mismatched leads
Bringing Up Baby
screwball comedy where eccentric social environments challenge conventional romantic and intellectual identities
Movie Details
- Director
- Howard Hawks
- Release Date
- 1941-12-02
- Runtime
- 111 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (255)
Cast
- Gary Cooper
- Barbara Stanwyck
- Oskar Homolka
- Henry Travers
- S.Z. Sakall
- Tully Marshall
- Leonid Kinskey
- Richard Haydn
- Aubrey Mather
- Allen Jenkins
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Ball of Fire about?
- A sheltered encyclopedia professor and a quick-witted nightclub singer turn an academic refuge into a sparkling romantic battleground while gangsters close in.
- What is Ball of Fire like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Ball of Fire as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Ball of Fire violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Ball of Fire as mild.
- What did critics think of Ball of Fire?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a highly funny, expertly crafted screwball romance elevated by the ideal chemistry of Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck.
- Which films are like Ball of Fire?
- Films with a similar feel include It Happened One Night, His Girl Friday, The Lady Eve, and Bringing Up Baby.
- How long is Ball of Fire?
- Ball of Fire runs 111 minutes.
- Where can I watch Ball of Fire?
- In United States, Ball of Fire streams on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
