Name: Ball of Fire
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Romance
Released: 1942-01-09
Duration: 111 min
Rating: 7.4
Cast: Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Oskar Homolka, Henry Travers, S.Z. Sakall

Ball of Fire

Inquiry About an Unfamiliar Object

Joe Lilac What is this?

[as the professors draw guns on Joe and his men]

Professor Oddly I believe... I think it is known as an "up-stick.

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Ball of Fire

Finding Solutions in Unlikely Places

Joe Lilac Having some trouble, Mr. D.A.?

District Attorney Oh, don't worry, Joe. And don't underestimate this office or the State of New York. I've got some boys that can find a needle in a haystack.

Joe Lilac Oh, that's a cinch. All you have to do is get a horse to eat the hay and then x-ray the horse.

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Ball of Fire

Learning Slang in Unexpected Love

Taglines Riotous but tender comedy of a professor so anxious to learn the slang pf a hep-cat queen that she puts his heart in a sling!

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Ball of Fire

Counting the Members of the Project Team

Sugarpuss O'Shea Hey, how many of you are on this job?

[mistaking Bertram for a police dick come to take her downtown]

Professor Potts Uh, the entire project? Eight.

Sugarpuss O'Shea Oh. The other seven waiting outside?

Professor Potts Oh, no. They're at home sound asleep, I imagine.

Sugarpuss O'Shea Asleep?

Professor Potts Yes, they go to bed at nine every night.

Sugarpuss O'Shea You mean to tell me with crime what it is in New Yor... Say, are you a bull or aren't you?

Professor Potts Well, if "bull" is a slang word for professor, then I'm a bull.

Sugarpuss O'Shea A professor?

Professor Potts Of English.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Ball of Fire

Exploring the Meaning of Yum-Yum

Professor Potts What're you gonna do?

Sugarpuss O'Shea I'm going to show you what yum-yum is. Here's yum. Here's the other yum. And here's yum-yum.

[kisses him; kisses him again; gives a long kiss that knocks him backwards onto a chair]

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Ball of Fire

Discussion of a Young Lady's Charisma

Professor Potts Young man, what is the name of that young lady?

Waiter Sugarpuss O'Shea.

Professor Potts An astounding specimen.

Waiter She jives by night. Root, zoot and cute and solid to boot.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Ball of Fire

A Scholar's Encounter with Jive Culture

Taglines The riotous but tender comedy of a slang-hunter professor, baffled by the words, but a sucker for the wiles of a hot-spot Queen of Jive who used his study as a hide-out!

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Ball of Fire

A Question About Decor in Ball of Fire

Sugarpuss O'Shea Say, who decorated this place? The mug that shot ]?

[about the professors' workroom; [Lincoln]

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Ball of Fire

Encyclopedia Writers and Their Unseen Knowledge

Taglines 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 fiddled while Rome was burning. But there was one thing about which they knew very little--as you shall see...

[After the opening credits]

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Ball of Fire

Love and Kissing in Ball of Fire

Taglines I LOVE HIM because he doesn't know how to kiss -- THE JERK!

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Ball of Fire

Acknowledging Mistakes in a Tactful Discussion

Professor Potts Before we attempt to get back to work, I'd like to say a few words. You've been very kind and very tactful. If I may say so, over-tactful. The entire ride home in the car you avoided a certain subject to make empty conversation. Now let's have it out. I made an ass of myself and I know it.

Professor Jerome Oh, well, we all have, Potts.

Professor Potts Yes, but I was the lead donkey.

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Ball of Fire

A Complex Farewell to a Brilliant Mind

Professor Bertram Potts I shall regret the absence of your keen mind. Unfortunately, it is inseparable from an extremely disturbing body.

[to Sugarpuss]

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Ball of Fire

Quirky Love for an Unconventional Partner

Sugarpuss O'Shea Yes, I love him. I love those hick shirts he wears with the boiled cuffs and the way he always has his vest buttoned wrong. Looks like a giraffe, and I love him. I love him because he's the kind of a guy that gets drunk on a glass of buttermilk, and I love the way he blushes right up over his ears. Love him because he doesn't know how to kiss, the jerk!

[about Potts]

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Ball of Fire

A Professor's Request for Affection

Professor Bertram Potts Sugarpuss, uh, before you go, would you... would you, eh, yum me just once more?

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Ball of Fire

The Complexity of Relationships and Desire

Miss Bragg That is the kind of woman that makes whole civilizations topple!

Professor Gurkakoff The subconscious never makes a mistake. She gave you the ring she didn't want - his ring - and she kept the one she wanted - yours.

[discovering Sugarpuss gave back the wrong ring]

Professor Magenbruch Maybe my data on sex is a little outdated, too.

Ball of Fire

Observation and Knowledge from Simple Experiences

Sugarpuss O'Shea Who is that guy who learned so much from watching an apple drop?

Ball of Fire

In the Home Stretch of Our Work

Professor Bertram Potts We're working under pressure. After nine years of effort, we are, as the race track enthusiast might say, in the home stretch. Three more years and our encyclopedia will be finished. Let's not bog down in the middle of the letter S.

Ball of Fire

On Dependence and Honesty in Relationships

Joe Lilac You know, I was kinda counting on Sugarpuss to tell ya the score. Trouble is, she's all right givin out with the twists and the wisecracks, but when it comes to leveling off she gets chicken.

Ball of Fire

An Invitation to Begin the Evening

Sugarpuss O'Shea You, uh, you don't think we could sort of begin the beguine right now?

Professor Potts Well, it's, uh, nearly one o'clock, Miss O'Shea.

Sugarpuss O'Shea Oh, foo, professor. And let's get ourselves a couple drinks, light the fire maybe, and you can start working on me right away.

Professor Potts Well, I wouldn't think of imposing on you at this hour.

Sugarpuss O'Shea Listen, I figured on working all night.

Ball of Fire

A New Year's Comedy Adventure Awaits

Taglines The New Year's red-hot comedy!

Ball of Fire

The Futility of Academic Endeavors

Professor Potts I've just finished my article on slang. Twenty-three pages compiled from a dozen reference books. Eight hundred examples. Everything from the idiotic combination "absotively" to the pejorative use of "zigzag." I traced the evolution of "hunky dory," tracked down "skiddo" from "skedaddle." Eight hundred examples and I may as well throw it in the waste basket. Three weeks work.

Professor Robinson Potts, you're hysterical.

Professor Potts Outmoded. Based on reference books 20 years old. Take "smooch." Take "dish." Take...

Professor Oddly Hoytoytoy?

Professor Potts Hoytoytoy. Not one of them included. Living in this house cut off from the world, I've lost touch. And it's inexcusable! That man talked a living language. I embalmed some dead phrases.

Professor Gurkakoff But where are you going?

Professor Potts Out to collect new data, to tap the sources of slang, the major sources. The streets. The slums. The theatrical and allied professions.

Professor Robinson Oh, now, Potts, don't you think that...

Professor Potts I know it's regrettable, this loss of time, gentlemen, but it must be done. Leave the key under the mat. I won't be home before 9 o'clock.

Ball of Fire Quotes