Operation Mad Ball
| Operation Mad Ball | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Richard Quine |
| Written by | Arthur Carter (play) Blake Edwards |
| Produced by | Jed Harris |
| Starring | Jack Lemmon Kathryn Grant Ernie Kovacs Mickey Rooney Dick York Arthur O'Connell |
| Cinematography | Charles Lawton Jr. |
| Edited by | Charles Nelson |
| Music by | George Duning |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date | August 17, 1957 |
Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | Template:Film US |
| Language | English |
Operation Mad Ball is a madcap 1957 military comedy starring Jack Lemmon, Kathryn Grant, Ernie Kovacs, Dick York, Arthur O'Connell, and Mickey Rooney and directed by Richard Quine.
Plot
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Private Hogan (Jack Lemmon) does not believe that such a blue-stocking can be good-looking, but the first sight of lovely dietetic nurse Lieutenant Betty Bixby (Kathryn Grant) sets him right. When he picks her cigarette lighter up and puts his weapon aside, he is surprísed by security officer Paul Locke (Ernie Kovacs) who instantly sees red and threatens him with court-martial, execution and anything else that comes to mind. Locke is sadistic, choleric, malicious and pompous, but much to Hogan's relief, not as smart as himself. Soon, Hogan plans to organise a ball with all the prettiest nurses and his fellow soldiers. Hogan and Cpl. Bohun (Dick York) go to through all sorts of mishap to make sure that the secret Mad Ball goes ahead.
Hogan uses a General's X-ray and pretends that the X-ray belongs to him. The X-ray shows several problems and Hogan wins the sympathy of the beautiful lieutenant Betty Bixby, whom he wants to take to the ball. Hogan claims to be suffering from heartburn and an ulcer in his X-ray examination. Betty thinks that this would be the cause of alcohol and tobacco. Every time Betty sees Hogan, she clearly shows that she is smitten with the handsome soldier. When Betty finds out that the X-ray doesn't belong to Hogan, she falls out with him, leaving both Betty and Hogan secretly sad to have lost each other.
On the night of the ball, each soldier has been paired with their pretty nurse, except Hogan. He waits for her, hoping that she has forgiven him, but he ends up going to the ball on his own. When he arrives, he sees Betty with the Colonel (Arthur O'Connell). She takes off her long coat to reveal a pretty dress and her Lieutenant's hat to reveal her real woman, as throughout the movie, she resists Hogan's strong advances and convinces herself that she's a Lieutenant and has no time for boys. At the end, she shares the last dance with Hogan.
Cast
- Jack Lemmon as Private Hogan
- Kathryn Grant as Lt. Betty Bixby
- Ernie Kovacs as Captain Locke
- Dick York as Cpl. Bohun
- Arthur O'Connell as Col. Rousch
- Mickey Rooney as Sergeant Yancy Skibo
- Jeanne Manet as Madame LaFour
- James Darren as Private Widowskas
- Roger Smith as Corporal Berryman
- Marilyn Hanold as Lieutenant Tweedy
- L.Q. Jones as Ozark
- William Leslie as Private Grimes
- David McMahon as Sgt. Pringle
- William Hickey as Private Sampson
- Stacy Graham as Lt. Rosedale
- Bebe Allen as Lt. Johnson
- Sheridan Comerate as Sergeant Wilson
- Dick Crockett as Sgt. McCloskey (uncredited)
- Betsy Jones-Moreland as Lt. Bushey (uncredited)
Trivia
- Jack Lemmon received top billing for this film - the first time in his career.
Memorable Quotes
| This section contains too many or overly lengthy quotations. (June 2011) |
(Lt. Betty Bixbee is feeling Hogan's chest after he claims to be ill.)
Betty Bixbee: And the pathway of the pain, up and spreading?
Private Hogan: Ooh... like a chestnut tree!
(Betty Bixbee is explaining to Hogan what he must do to "feel better".)
Betty Bixbee: No running, no tobacco, no liquor, no emotional excitement...
Private Hogan: Just think about (nurse) Lieutenant Rosedale. And she's in your arms. And the music is playing... and you're working nights.
Betty Bixbee: Have you had any new symptoms since I saw you this morning?
Private Hogan: A few, around the heart.
Soundtrack
Mad Ball
by Fred Karger and Richard Quine
Let's Fall in Love
By Harold Arlen
Played when Pvt. Hogan is getting arrested
La Marseillaise
By Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle
Hummed by the soldiers in the barracks
Pennies from Heaven
By Arthur Johnston
Played during the party preparation and at the ball
In the Mood
By Joe Garland
Played while the band is being rehearsed and at the ball
Awards
- Top Male Comedy Performance - Jack Lemmon
- Best Written American Comedy - Blake Edwards