Ball of Fire (1941)
This isn't Howard Hawks's triumph by any means, and I'm no fan of Gary Cooper, the star here (along with Barbara Stanwyck, who I love). But there are some fun moments and great lines, and if you are chilling and don't expect something as moving as Holiday or as relentlessly hilarious as Bringing Up Baby, you might just love this.
And there are sidelights that make it worth a watch for movie lovers--an early bit appearance by Elisha Cook, cinematography by Gregg Toland (same year and same photography as Citizen Kane), supporting roles by Oscar Homolka and Dan Duryea (more favorites), and writing by Billy Wilder. That's enough for any decent movie.
For me it gets a little drawn out at times, and a little contained in the old house for too long. And Cooper is an actor who survived by making his woodenness an asset, and if that makes him cute to women, it makes him dull to the rest of us. In a way he's cast perfectly here, but I'd rather have Cary Grant any day (who wouldn't), or any number of others playing the witless professor falling in love.
It's screwball comedy not at its best, but in the prime of its heyday. Give it a whirl. And check out Gene Krupa (the real McCoy) in an early scene.
This isn't Howard Hawks's triumph by any means, and I'm no fan of Gary Cooper, the star here (along with Barbara Stanwyck, who I love). But there are some fun moments and great lines, and if you are chilling and don't expect something as moving as Holiday or as relentlessly hilarious as Bringing Up Baby, you might just love this.
And there are sidelights that make it worth a watch for movie lovers--an early bit appearance by Elisha Cook, cinematography by Gregg Toland (same year and same photography as Citizen Kane), supporting roles by Oscar Homolka and Dan Duryea (more favorites), and writing by Billy Wilder. That's enough for any decent movie.
For me it gets a little drawn out at times, and a little contained in the old house for too long. And Cooper is an actor who survived by making his woodenness an asset, and if that makes him cute to women, it makes him dull to the rest of us. In a way he's cast perfectly here, but I'd rather have Cary Grant any day (who wouldn't), or any number of others playing the witless professor falling in love.
It's screwball comedy not at its best, but in the prime of its heyday. Give it a whirl. And check out Gene Krupa (the real McCoy) in an early scene.