Synopsis
It's Operation Laughter For You! and anything goes!
In this wacky military spoof, Lemmon plays a terminally bored Army private waging a war of wits as he tries to throw a party under the nose of his obnoxious commanding officer.
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Operation Mad Ball
Cast
Jack Lemmon Ernie Kovacs Kathryn Grant Arthur O'Connell Mickey Rooney Dick York James Darren Roger Smith William Leslie Sheridan Comerate L.Q. Jones Jeanne Manet Marilyn Hanold Mary LaRoche Mary Tyler Moore Bebe Allen Richard Bull Anna Lee Carroll Joel Collins Dick Crockett Kort Falkenberg Ron Gans Albert Godderis Stacy Graham Michael Hagen William Hickey Maithe Iragui Roy Jenson Betsy Jones-Moreland Show All…
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Editor
Camera Operator
Composer
Studio
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Alternative Titles
Gynaikes sta opla, Le bal des cinglés, O Baile Maluco, Off limits, Operation brudar, Rekrutter med krudt i, Varuskunnan murheenkryynit, Операция «Безумная вечеринка», Selten so gelacht, Off Limits - Proibito ai militari, Танцът на откачалките, Operación Gran Baile, Операция Бешеный шар, Operació Nit Boja
Releases by Date
Theatrical
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USAG
Releases by Country
USA
17 Aug 1957
- TheatricalG
Popular reviews
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Has Jack Lemmon worked most often with director Richard Quine? It most certainly seems to be the case. In Operation Mad Ball, Lemmon is so sick and tired of being in the Army and the boring life has has, he tries to spice things up by organizing a party - something his commanding officier would and could never approve of. Keep special attention to Arthur O'Connell - for which I have a soft spot since I saw him in The Hiding Place (1975) - he just steals every scene he's in. Funny, one of the better 1950's mass-made comedies, but forgettable.
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This is Jack Lemmon as Sgt. Bilko with Ernie Kovaacs as the killjoy superior officer whom Lemmon has to try and maneuver around. Lemmon is set on throwing this giant party for the other servicemen, hence the title. It's good if you like fast talking Lemmon and service comedies but it never really quite catches fire to become hilarious but its pleasant and affable and some of Lemmon's patter is funny. There's a female officer he likes but is kinda cowarded by (she thinks he suffers from an ulcer for some reason) it's enteraingish
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A perfectly pleasant entry in the "GIs pulling one over on the stuffy rule-following officer" genre.
Oh, and Mickey Rooney fucking GOES FOR IT as an autistic hep cat jazz fan.
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Reasonably charming post-war army comedy. Not too many huge laughs, but it’s enjoyable enough.
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Starts off great with Sammy Davis Jr. singing the theme song over credits of an all-star cast, and goes down hill as soon as it starts.
Shouty, overly long and annoying. Even James Darren in a small role couldn't save it for me.
Mickey Rooney coming in late in the film, was like Andy Hardy if he never grew up and was in the Army.
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I was going to write something about how it treats it's women like meat but considering how sleazy raunchy comedies have gotten in the last few decades, this is comes across as very tame, and dare I say... sweet?
It takes a bit to get going and there's a lot of humor that probably works better if you are a military man, but when the story does start going places I was having quite a good time and found the movie strangely charming!
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Without naming it (and possibly without realizing it), a lot of OPERATION MAD BALL is actually about sexual harassment. What constitutes it, what the consequences should be, whether the recipient has a say in it. I’m not sure if Jack Lemmon’s character lands on the right side of it, but it’s interesting to see in a 1957 comedy.
Despite all the weird, outdated sexual dynamics, I thought it was funny. The plot is that all these soldiers are plotting to throw a party without the higher ups finding out, so it kind of reminded me of an 80s comedy, but less crass. It’s a little bit too long, but I liked it.
“I want my stiff!”
NOTE: Mickey Rooney was… -
Not. One. Stinking. Laugh.
Love Jack Lemmon, and this was co-written by Blake Edwards, but what a bomb. And way to cast the hilarious, irreverent Ernie Kovacs as the humorless heavy - huh?? All-around bland with a lot of “antics” that go nowhere and again - not a single damn laugh was had.
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Sleazy, creepy comedy that assumes women are incompetent and views any escalation of their social standing a grave error.
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Fun undemanding military comedy with Jack Lemmon doing a Sgt Bilko. Master conniver Pvt Hogan (Lemmon) organises a huge party, behind the backs of the top brass (an excellent debut from Ernie Kovacs) and mobilises practically the whole army. Mickey Rooney steals scenes as the hyper, jive talking Sgt Skibo