Le bal des cinglés

What breaks down military discipline faster than pull from the opposite sex. But that's what's happening to the enlisted men of a hospital detachment US Army with all those fetching nurse officers next to them. It's France right after the war and the boys are getting restless. The trouble is that Capt. Locke (Kovacs) is a pompous stickler for discipline, while mastermind Pvt. Hogan (Lemmon) schemes to let nature take its course. It's a hilarious battle between enlisted men and officers. Can fast-talking Hogan put on his mad-ball mixer before killjoy Locke foils his romantic plans. Both comedians are in fine form, making this a service comedy whose modest budget and b&w photography probably got lost in the mix of the time. Too bad, because the movie's fast paced, full of clever situations, with an attractive and lively cast.

Kovacs and Lemmon are a great pairing, showing again how much delicious humbug was lost in that tragic Kovacs auto accident. Support comes through, as well- a demure Kathryn Grant as the wide-eyed lieutenant, a cranky Dick York as the frustrated corporal, and a rhyming Mickey Rooney as the "twiddle-de-de, it must be me" logistics sergeant--- all orchestrated by up-and-coming director Richard Quine. Anyway, this is a good chance to catch up with the whole madcap bunch in a movie that remains a genuine sleeper. Now if I could just figure out what the heck an ocarina is.

The real value in this one is the gathering of huge hollywood names, not the story. Ya got Jack Lemmon, so many hollywood films. Ernie Kovacs (humorist, tv and film. you must see Our man in Havana), Dick York (ONE of the Dick's on "Bewitched"). I'm not really a fan of Mickey Rooney, child star, but he's in here too. and James Darren, Gidget's man. and Kathryn Grant, Mrs. Bing Crosby ! In the almost inconsequential storyline, Captain Lock (Kovacs) has it in for Private Hogan (Lemmon), for some reason ( jealousy ?), and he's already on thin ice. When Hogan gets re-assigned to the morgue, things start to happen, and we know there's going to be a HUGE confrontation at some point. When Hogan wants to have a final party for the guys, Lock is all over him, and is going to ruin the whole thing. One of the glaring errors here is that the men keep saying things in german, which would be HIGHLY unlikely during wartime. The script is just silly, but for entertainment purposes, we'll go along for the ride. Art O'Connell is Colonel Rousch, but his brother is a General, and i'm sure that information will come in handy later on. William Hickey is "Sampson".. he was the wacky uncle in Christmas Vacation. has some lines. Directed by Richard Quine.. he and his wife both had sad, weird bios, according to wikipedia. It's an entertaining 100 minutes. Interesting, if just for the cast of stars.

First: The Sony movie channel has been periodically showing this, in a hilariously good, maybe even remastered transfer. Look for it.

Second, ignore the poster, the marketing of the time, even the title. It's not slapstick, no impossibly improbable stuff and really, it's more like a heist movie than a pure comedy. All machinations of some scheming lower ranks to get a party together, all within or by skirting regulations.

No physical impossibilities, no moustache twirling villains breaking the law themselves, no one runs around in a gorilla suit. It's even relatively realistic B&W.

Nothing like Bilko or so on, and all the better for it.

I have enjoyed this film for many years. Casting a film is an art in itself. And this film is a classic of casting. The Oscar-winning actor Jack Lemmon, is a perfect foil for the fussy Ernie Kovacs. Young James Darren, and Dick York, and the inimitable Mickey Rooney, all make a fine ensemble. Veteran Arthur O'Connell, and all of the rest serve up a delicious film.

This is one of the biggest sleepers of all time, and really never got the recognition that it deserved. I like to think of it as a "Proto-M*A*S*H", as it clearly presents a lunacy of a military hospital, and the goofy characters.

A precious "gem" of a film.

Reading these reviews were spot on while being simultaneously disconcerting. Other movies were mentioned that had influence on this one, but didn't Operation Mad Ball remind anybody besides me of Hogan's Heroes? And I'm not referencing the fact that Jack Lemmon's character was named Hogan, although this might have been the basis for the TV title.

Although the circumstances aren't quite the same (albeit they are both set in WWII), some of the dialog is exactly as I remember from the TV show. Even the sight gags and the situations are similar. Only things lacking are the Germans and the teapot.

It's a fun movie and well worth watching. I've never seen it before and just can't help comparing it to Hogan's Heroes. Mickey Rooney is a hoot!