Ball of Fire

:For other things with similar names, see the disambiguation at fireball.

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Ball of Fire (also known as The Professor and the Burlesque Queen) is a 1941 comedy film which tells the story of a group of encyclopedists interested in documenting slang who protect a nightclub singer on the lam for testifying against her mobster boyfriend. It stars Gary Cooper ("Bertram Potts"), Barbara Stanwyck ("Sugarpuss"), Oskar Homolka, Henry Travers, Richard Haydn, Dana Andrews, Dan Duryea and Elisha Cook Jr..

Related Topics:
1941 - Encyclopedists - Gary Cooper - Barbara Stanwyck - Oskar Homolka - Henry Travers - Richard Haydn - Dana Andrews - Dan Duryea - Elisha Cook Jr.

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The movie was written by Charles Brackett, Thomas Monroe and Billy Wilder. It was directed by Howard Hawks. Drummer and bandleader Gene Krupa made a memorable cameo appearance in the film peforming the song "Drum Boogie" with his band.

Related Topics:
Charles Brackett - Thomas Monroe - Billy Wilder - Howard Hawks - Gene Krupa

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Ball of Fire was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Barbara Stanwyck), Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic Picture, Best Sound, Recording and Best Writing, Original Story.

Related Topics:
Academy Awards - Best Actress in a Leading Role - Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic Picture - Best Sound, Recording - Best Writing, Original Story

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Examples of 1940s American slang used in the film:

Related Topics:
1940s - Slang

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• "shove in your clutch" - get lost
  
• "going like gangbusters" - still in contemporary use
  
• "crabapple annie" - a stuffy, prudish person
  
• "hold the phone" - shut up

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