Ball of Fire

Selected by the Writers Branch. Special guest: Introduction by Howard A. Rodman, Academy Governor, former president of the WGAW.

Tue, Feb 7, 2023

Ball of Fire

Selected by the Writers Branch. 

The only collaboration between screenwriter Billy Wilder (working with Charles Brackett and Thomas Monroe) and director Howard Hawks is a classic screwball romance inspired by Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Barbara Stanwyck is Katherine “Sugarpuss” O’Shea, a nightclub singer and gangster’s moll who finds herself hiding from the police with a group of scholars—led by a mild-mannered, bookish Gary Cooper as Professor Bertram Potts—researching modern slang. The script’s dialogue is filled with delightful lingo, and the film received nominations for Stanwyck’s typically expert performance, Wilder and Monroe’s original story, Alfred Newman’s score, and the sound recording. 

DIRECTED BY: Howard Hawks. WRITTEN BY: Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder. STORY BY: Billy Wilder, Thomas Monroe. WITH: Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Dana Andrews, Oscar Homolka. 1941. 111 min. USA. B&W. English. 35mm. Preservation print courtesy of the UCLA Film & Television Archive.
Academy Museum film programming generously funded by the Richard Roth Foundation.

Know Before You Go

  • Plan your Visit

    Location

    The Academy Museum and its theaters are located at 6067 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036

    Parking

    Self-parking, accessible parking, and electric vehicle charging options are available. See below for our parking structure information and view the parking page for further details.

    Ride-Share Drop Off

    Roddenberry Lane, entrance on Fairfax Ave.

    LACMA's Pritzker Parking Garage

    6000 W 6th St., Los Angeles, CA 90036, entrance on 6th St.
    5am–10pm
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    Accessible spots on P1, adjacent to elevators
    EV charging stations on P1 and P2

    Petersen Automotive Museum Garage

    744 Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036, entrance on Fairfax Ave. or 8th St.
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    $24 (first 15 min. free)
    Accessible spots on P1 only; no garage elevator
    EV charging stations on P1

  • Accessibility

    Audio Description

    For visitors who are blind or partially-sighted, audio description devices are available for some digital film screenings on a first-come, first-served basis. 

    Real-time audio descriptions are available for some performances upon request with at least three weeks’ notice, subject to the availability of describers. Email academymuseum@oscars.org to submit your request.

    Closed Captioning

    For visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing, in-seat closed captioning or descriptive audio-devices are available for some digital film screenings on a first-come, first-served basis. Please confirm availability at academymuseum@oscars.org before planning your visit. 

    Real-time captioning is available for programs upon request with at least three weeks’ notice, subject to the availability of captioners. Email academymuseum@oscars.org to submit your request.

    Please see our Accessibility page for complete information, including details on our Visual Description Tours, Calm Mornings, and Covid-19 policies.