The Firemen’s Ball
Directed by Milos Forman
Written by Milos Forman, Jaroslav Papousek and Ivan Passer; story by Vaclav Sasek
1967/Czechoslovakia
Carlo Ponti Cinematografica/Filmove Studio Barrandov
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental
One of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Di
[box]Firefighters don’t go on strike. – Dennis Leary[/box]
Everything goes to hell this hilarious political satire/farce.
Small-town firemen decide to hold a grand bash in honor of their former Commander’s 86th birthday. (They should have done it when he turned 85 but forgot.) Among the festivities are to be a raffle, a beauty contest, dancing, and as the big finale the presentation of a ceremonial hatchet to the old man.
Every single thing that can go wrong does go wrong and in hilarious fashion. Lottery prizes start to go missing, the local talent mostly have faces only a mother could love and know it, and the celebration is interrupted by an actual fire.
I saw this years ago and had forgotten just how funny it was. The gags just keep coming in rapid-fire succession. Forman utilizes his cast of hundreds like a master. Highly recommended.
Milos Forman fled for the USA during the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia and the rest is history!
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