IMDb RATING
6.5/10
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In post-WWII France, U.S. Army hospital Private Hogan and Captain Lock try to outwit each other on issues such as wooing pretty nurses, accounting for missing medical supplies, organizing un... Read allIn post-WWII France, U.S. Army hospital Private Hogan and Captain Lock try to outwit each other on issues such as wooing pretty nurses, accounting for missing medical supplies, organizing unauthorized dances, and influencing their C.O.In post-WWII France, U.S. Army hospital Private Hogan and Captain Lock try to outwit each other on issues such as wooing pretty nurses, accounting for missing medical supplies, organizing unauthorized dances, and influencing their C.O.
- Awards
- 2 nominations
Bebe Allen
- Lt. Johnson
- (uncredited)
Richard Bull
- Military Police Sergeant
- (uncredited)
Anna Lee Carroll
- Lt. Leeming
- (uncredited)
Joel Collins
- Collins
- (uncredited)
Dick Crockett
- Sgt. McCloskey
- (uncredited)
Kort Falkenberg
- Oskar
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFilm debut of Mary Tyler Moore. NOTE: She (uncredited) is part of the last couple entering the next-to-last ambulance to go to the ball. This occurs just a few minutes prior to the end of the movie. On the Call Sheet she's listed as "Mary Moore", which was her acting name at that time. It was her debut.
- GoofsThe x-ray of the abdomen showing the duodenal ulcer is held up and looked at backwards each time.
- Quotes
Pvt. Hogan: Oh, I have symptoms.
- ConnectionsReferenced in What's My Line?: Ernie Kovacs & Doris Day (1957)
- SoundtracksMad Ball
Music by Fred Karger
Lyrics by Richard Quine
Sung during the opening credits by Sammy Davis Jr.
Also played at the end
Featured review
Very good Army comedy set in post-war France
"Operation Mad Ball" is a very funny movie, with a wonderful cast. One wonders if this film didn't inspire the 1972 hit TV series, "M.A.S.H.," more than the 1970 movie and book it was based on. Army surgeon H. Richard Hornberger wrote "MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors" in 1968, under the pen name, Richard Hooker. It was about his service in the Korean War. The 1970 movie, "M.A.S.H." was based on his book. While Hooker liked the movie, he didn't like the TV series, saying it wasn't his kind of medical humor. But the type of hijinks, fenagling and scheming plans in "Operation Mad Ball" are much like what the later TV series seemed to thrive on - in between its witty and funny dialog at times and its occasional serious notes.
And, this movie was made earlier than all those other sources. So, anything familiar in those and other films or shows like them ("McHale's Navy" TV series of 1962 and movie of 1964, "Operation Petticoat" movie of 1959, etc.) may have been borrowed from this movie.
The U.S. Army 1066th General Hospital is located somewhere in northern France. The war in Europe ended four months earlier. It's now September 1945, and the Army's presence is mostly helping the French rebuild, and the hospital is there to care for the last injured in recovery before everyone returns to the States.
Jack Lemmon's Pvt. Hogan is a genius of an idea man - in this case, a schemer for having fun and getting the most out of the remainder of his Army time, by having the least to do. The latter explains why after at least three years and a number of combat awards, Hogan is still a private. When his nemesis, Capt. Paul Lock, played superbly by Ernie Kovacs, tries to nail him on any infraction, he somehow slips by or gets out of it. In one scene, Lock is trying to get Col. Rousch, the unit's commander, to throw the book at Hogan. He points to the record he has handed Rousch, who then starts reading, "Silver Star, bronze star with cluster, purple heart...." When Rousch says it's quite a record, Hogan explains that it had just been luck - he had been in the wrong place at the time.
Having served with all of the NCOs in the unit the past three years, Hogan knows the ins and outs of the whole unit - and then some. And, they all know what he can do. With the unit soon to be shipped Stateside, he plans one last great fling for the enlisted men and nurses - a fantastic ball at Madame LaFour's inn and hotel. And, everyone has to pitch in to pull it off and not get discovered by Lock. .
The film has a whale of a cast, all of whom are very good. The comedy isn't from lots of witty or funny dialog. It's most situational, and much of it somewhat occupational - having to do with the Army. Veterans of all branches of service should enjoy this film, as well as family members and all who enjoy good comedies. The ending is a real hoot. This is a classic example of a very good comedy that would be much less without the straight man role. And Kovacs plays it perfectly.
And, this movie was made earlier than all those other sources. So, anything familiar in those and other films or shows like them ("McHale's Navy" TV series of 1962 and movie of 1964, "Operation Petticoat" movie of 1959, etc.) may have been borrowed from this movie.
The U.S. Army 1066th General Hospital is located somewhere in northern France. The war in Europe ended four months earlier. It's now September 1945, and the Army's presence is mostly helping the French rebuild, and the hospital is there to care for the last injured in recovery before everyone returns to the States.
Jack Lemmon's Pvt. Hogan is a genius of an idea man - in this case, a schemer for having fun and getting the most out of the remainder of his Army time, by having the least to do. The latter explains why after at least three years and a number of combat awards, Hogan is still a private. When his nemesis, Capt. Paul Lock, played superbly by Ernie Kovacs, tries to nail him on any infraction, he somehow slips by or gets out of it. In one scene, Lock is trying to get Col. Rousch, the unit's commander, to throw the book at Hogan. He points to the record he has handed Rousch, who then starts reading, "Silver Star, bronze star with cluster, purple heart...." When Rousch says it's quite a record, Hogan explains that it had just been luck - he had been in the wrong place at the time.
Having served with all of the NCOs in the unit the past three years, Hogan knows the ins and outs of the whole unit - and then some. And, they all know what he can do. With the unit soon to be shipped Stateside, he plans one last great fling for the enlisted men and nurses - a fantastic ball at Madame LaFour's inn and hotel. And, everyone has to pitch in to pull it off and not get discovered by Lock. .
The film has a whale of a cast, all of whom are very good. The comedy isn't from lots of witty or funny dialog. It's most situational, and much of it somewhat occupational - having to do with the Army. Veterans of all branches of service should enjoy this film, as well as family members and all who enjoy good comedies. The ending is a real hoot. This is a classic example of a very good comedy that would be much less without the straight man role. And Kovacs plays it perfectly.
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- SimonJack
- Mar 3, 2021
- How long is Operation Mad Ball?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 45 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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