History Film / BallOfFire

* SixIsNine: A poorly secured 9 on the front door of a motel cabin falls over and becomes a 6. This causes Bertram to enter the wrong cabin (thinking it's Professor Oddly's room) and accidentally pour his heart out to Sugarpuss, reciting a LoveDeclaration speech he's planned beforehand. While sitting in the darkness feeling guilty about planning her escape, Sugarpuss is moved to tears by his words.

* BadassBookworm: the professors and Bertram, when it comes time [[TookALevelInBadass to take a step up]].

* [[ShoutOut/ToShakespeare Shout-Out: To Shakespeare]]: Bertram recites a speech from ''Theatre/RichardIII'' when giving Sugarpuss the engagement ring. The monologue he quotes is written on the inside of the ring.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: After Sugarpuss kisses Bertram, the plot of Bertram's grammar classes aren't seen again in the story. It can be argued that they still happen off-screen.
** Not to mention, the only characters from that slang group that reappear in the story are Sugarpuss and the garbage disposal man. The man from the pub and the paperboy aren't seen again.

* {{Moll}}: Sugarpuss.

* BigBallOfViolence: [[spoiler:Bertram's attack on Lilac is implied to be this. Although shown off-screen (albeit below the camera view showing the amazed reactions of Sugarpuss, the neighbours and the rest of the professors), you can see legs spinning about, clothing flying everywhere, and dust kicking up.

* EverybodyCallsHimBarkeep: Sugarpuss' real name is Katherine. We don't find this out until she is facing the priest with Lilac. It also makes one wonder whether Bertram and the professors even know (and/or ever find out) her real name.

Loosely based on ''Literature/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'', nightclub performer Katherine "Sugarpuss" O'Shea (Stanwyck) decides to hide in a communal library with a group of professors in order to escape being caught by the police, due to her fiance Joe Lilac's (Dana Andrews) mobster activities.

* FemmeFatale: Sugarpuss is a deconstructed version. She saves her seductive methods for the youngest professor Bertram, but acts as an InnocentFanserviceGirl to everyone else. The only person who isn't convinced is housekeeper Miss Bragg. However, this backfires horribly, because she eventually feels guilty when she tries to ditch them, Bertram eventually falls in love with her, and then she realises her fiance's determination to kill the professors [[TheyKnowTooMuch so they don't go to the police.]]

* GrammarNazi: Bertram, being the grammarian in the encyclopedia group. He particularly likes to harp on the split infinitive rule, that favorite of pedants. Later in the film, his passion for Sugarpuss loosens his grip on grammar.

* LipstickMark: The professors realise that a romance might blossom between Bertram and Sugarpuss when they notice that Bertram is CoveredInKisses and grinning when he was supposed to be forcing Sugarpuss to move out their mansion.

* SeriouslyScruffy: Bertram, who is focused on the encyclopedia with his other colleagues doesn't have time to worry about how his suit looks. Sugarpuss comments that he always has his waistcoat buttoned wrong and how endearing she finds it.

* [[ShoutOut/ToShakespeare Shout-Out: To Shakespeare]]: Bertram quotes ''Theatre/RichardIII'' when giving Sugarpuss the engagement ring. The monologue he quotes is written on the inside of the ring.
* SixIsNine: A poorly secured 9 on the front door of a motel cabin falls over and becomes a 6. This causes Bertram to enter the wrong cabin and accidentally pour his heart out to Sugar about her in the darkness.

There, she meets the tall, sheltered and conservative English professor Bertram Potts (Cooper), who is determined to understand the ever-changing colloquialisms of the socialites of today in order to put it inside an encyclopedia with his other colleagues' work from all sides of the curriculum. With the help of other members of the public he's rounded up -- including the garbage disposal man that visits the mansion every day -- Potts invites Sugarpuss to work alongside them, remembering one of her nightclub performances that he attended for research.

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[[quoteright:325:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ball_of_fire__1941_520.jpg]]

Loosely based on ''Literature/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'', nightclub performer Katherine "Sugarpuss" O'Shea (Stanwyck) decides to hide in a communal library with a group of professors in order to escape being caught by the police, due to her fiance Joe Lilac's (Dana Andrews) mobster activities. There, she meets the tall, sheltered and conservative English professor Bertram Potts (Cooper), who is determined to understand the ever-changing colloquialisms of the socialites of today in order to put it inside an encyclopedia with his other colleagues' work from all sides of the curriculum. With the help of other members of the public he's rounded up -- including the garbage disposal man that visits the mansion every day -- Potts invites Sugarpuss to work alongside them, after listening to one of her nightclub performances.

* ChickMagnet: Bertram, who is unable to notice that not only Sugarpuss is interested in him, but Miss Totten as well, considering how nervous she acts whenever they talk to each other.

* WhatHeppenedToTheMouse: After Sugarpuss kisses Bertram, the plot of Bertram's grammar classes aren't seen again in the story. It can be argued that they still happen off-screen.

Loosely based on ''Literature/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'', nightclub performer Katherine "Sugarpuss" O'Shea (Stanwyck) decides to hide in a communal library with a group of professors in order to escape being caught by the police, due to her fiance Joe Lilac's (Dana Andrews) mobster activities. There, she meets the sheltered and conservative English professor Bertram Potts (Cooper), who is determined to understand the ever-changing colloquialisms of the socialites of today in order to put it inside an encyclopedia with his other colleagues' work from all sides of the curriculum. With the help of other members of the public he's rounded up -- including the garbage disposal man that visits the mansion every day -- Potts invites Sugarpuss to work alongside them, after listening to one of her nightclub performances.

''Ball of Fire'' is an American 1941 {{screwball comedy}} starring Creator/GaryCooper and Creator/BarbaraStanwyck, and was written by Creator/BillyWilder, directed by Creator/HowardHawks with a score by Music/AlfredNewman. It was nominated for three UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s, including Best Actress and Best Story, and was then remade into a musical movie in 1948 called ''Film/ASongIsBorn''.

Loosely based on ''Literature/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'', nightclub performer Katherine "Sugarpuss" O'Shea (Stanwyck) decides to hide in a communal library with a group of professors in order to escape being caught by the police, due to her fiance Joe Lilac's (Dana Andrews) mobster activities. There, she meets English professor Bertram Potts (Cooper) -- a man determined to understand the ever-changing colloquialisms of the socialites of today in order to put it inside an encyclopedia with his other colleagues' work. With the help of other members of the public he's rounded up -- including the garbage disposal man that visits the mansion every day -- Potts invites Sugarpuss to work alongside them.

* DaddysGirl: Miss Totten. Her father died prior to movie events and was the brainchild to the encyclopedia project. She would do anything to help the professors get their research finished, but regretfully attempts to cancel it once she discovers that they've become preoccupied with the Sugarpuss scenario.

A 1941 ScrewballComedy about eight professors who are trying to compile the world's largest encyclopedia. Realizing his books on slang are out of date, English Professor Bertram Potts (Creator/GaryCooper) leaves the communal library/house where they work to find research material.

There he meets nightclub performer Sugarpuss O'Shea (Creator/BarbaraStanwyck), who needs a place to hide from the cops so she can't testify against her boyfriend: mobster Joe Lilac (Dana Andrews). She stays with Potts and uses his affection for her to her advantage. Naturally, she falls InLoveWithTheMark and HilarityEnsues.

From a script by prolific Hollywood writer Creator/BillyWilder and directed by Creator/HowardHawks with a score by Music/AlfredNewman. Nominated for three UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s, including Best Actress and best story.

Remade as the 1948 {{Musical}} film ''Film/ASongIsBorn''.

!!Tropes found in Ball of Fire include:

* NoSocialSkills: Bertram is portrayed as the most surprising of them all (despite the rest of the professors being like this) because he's the youngest.

* {{Burlesque}}: If they ever remake this film, Sugarpuss will probably be a stripper.

** Bertram stating that he often dabs the back of his neck with a cool flannel to calm himself down from his attraction to Sugarpuss goes into the DoesThisRemindYouOfAbything territory.

There he meets burlesque dancer Sugarpuss O'Shea (Creator/BarbaraStanwyck), who needs a place to hide from the cops so she can't testify against her boyfriend: mobster Joe Lilac (Dana Andrews). She stays with Potts and uses his affection for her to her advantage. Naturally, she falls InLoveWithTheMark and HilarityEnsues.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: One of the professors devoted their work to sex education, and even refers to it ''by name'' in a 1940s' movie, which might shock modern audiences.

** Bertram. He acts like learning new slang is SeriousBusiness, talks with SesquipedalianLoquaciousness a lot (even about his feelings towards Sugar), admits how aroused he is by Sugarpuss by having to wash his neck with cold water whenever he sees the sunlight in her hair (again, through SesquipedalianLoquaciousness), not to mention running out of the room after being kissed by her to do the latter, too. He also has a downplayed flaw of NoSocialSkills.
** The other professors, particularly through their obsessions over their work, and their lack of social skills around Sugarpuss.

* ClingyJealousGirl: Miss Bragg becomes cold towards the professors when she discovers that Sugarpuss is living with them, even threatening to resign from being their housekeeper. Bertram refuses to evict Sugarpuss, but Miss Bragg continues working, with some of the professors calling her bluff. She discovers Sugarpuss' true identity when she "accidentally" searches through her luggage, confronting her when she walks in the room.

* EverybodyCallsHimBarkeep: Sugarpuss' real name is Katherine. We don't find this out until she is facing the priest with Lilac.

* SeriousBusiness: Making damn sure that encyclopedia is as accurate and up-to-date as possible. If not, they will be fired by Miss Totten, the daughter of a dead former colleague.

* SpeakNowOrForeverHoldYourPeace: While these exact words aren't said, Bertram and his friends do have to break up Lilac's wedding in the climax.

* TickleTorture: The professors uses this (with a feather) on Pastrami, one of Joe Lilac's {{Mooks}}, to get him to say where Lilac is going to (try to) marry Sugarpuss. It works.

* WilliamTelling: The protagonist's professor friends get a gangster to stay seated in a chair by challenging him to hit a coin held by one of them in his fingers.

A 1941 ScrewballComedy about eight professors who are trying to compile the world's largest encyclopedia. Realizing his books on slang are out of date, English Professor Bertram Potts (Creator/GaryCooper) leaves the communal library/house where they work to find research material. There he meets burlesque dancer Sugarpuss O'Shea (Creator/BarbaraStanwyck), who needs a place to hide from the cops so she can't testify against her boyfriend: mobster Joe Lilac (Dana Andrews). She stays with Potts and uses his affection for her to her advantage. Naturally, she falls InLoveWithTheMark and HilarityEnsues.

* MsFanservice: Sugarpuss, played by Barbara Stanwyck, wearing dance clothes in her first appearance.

** To convince him to allow her to live in the mansion, she takes off her heels and stretches out her leg to him to feel how cold and wet her feet are from the rain.