Mjeteconer Just perfect...

Merolliv I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Allison Davies The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

framptonhollis While "The Firemen's Ball" is looked upon as one of the finest allegorical satires of communism of all time, I had no idea what to expect before viewing it. I only knew it as a famous Czech comedy from the masterful filmmaker Milos Forman (a man whose name may not be household, but whose films certainly are, most notably "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Amadeus"), and had no knowledge of its political context. After sensing some heavy satirical vibes that I could not exactly code, I learned about the time and place in which this film was made, and its overall political context.However, although the political context is a key to uncovering this comedy's genuine mastery, this is an entertaining and stunning movie all meanings aside. It is short, faced paced, witty, ironic, full of constant(ly hilarious) gags, and is even poignantly melancholic at times. There is sadness and sorrow hidden deep within this farcical romp, as brief moments flicker with an inner pain. Forman does not create any melodrama, but simple sprinkles bites of poeticism throughout this gigantic joke in a way that is subtle and, therefore, brilliantly effective.If one simply ignores the meanings and contexts behind this masterpiece, there is still a wonderfully funny and occasionally sad comedy to behold that will entertain almost any avid moviegoer. Fans of filmmaking (and especially comic/satiric filmmaking) MUST witness this brilliant and brief laugh riot as soon as possible, for it is among the finest art house comedies ever made.

Sergeant_Tibbs Milos Forman is one of those directors with an incredibly unique voice but such an extensive career that it's difficult to believe they're from the same man. Amadeus and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest are some of the better Best Picture choices from the Academy and Man On The Moon was a sentimental favourite back in the day. I'd always been curious about his earlier Czech career but only now have I watched The Fireman's Ball and realized that he's always been a talent. Most of its scenes feel like a farce, almost like a Jacques Tati film seen through a veritie lens. It's pure joy to watch things escalate out of control over such small things. Despite the 4:3 ratio limitations, the colourful cinematography is wonderful and it fits perfectly with the music and ensemble of characters. It's a truly great satire which is always interesting and surprising if very simple. I wish more films were like this as through its satire it says a lot about the attitudes and behaviour of society. I'm definitely going to look out for more Forman.9/10

Jackson Booth-Millard From director Milos Forman (One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, Amadeus, Man on the Moon), this film was highly recommended to me by the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, and being admirable about the director I was interested to see a film in his native Czechoslovakian language, the last before going to America. Basically in a small Czechoslovak town the volunteer fire department are organising a ball in the town hall, with a lottery and a beauty contest included, this is also to celebrate the birthday of the honorary chairman who has cancer, but they don't know if he knows that, and they will present him with a small ceremonial fire axe. As the ball gets underway the fire-fighter committee members have not done the best planning for the beauty contest, so they have quickly got together eight candidates to compete for the prize, it is only after they have been drinking too much alcohol that one of the fathers gets them to accept his obese daughter. The lottery of the ball also suffers problems when food and drink as prizes start disappearing from the table, fire-fighter Josef (Josef Kolb), unaware that his wife is one of those stealing, tries to get the stolen prizes back, without success. Eventually enough women have been found to compete in the beauty contest, and the winner they are told will present the gift to the honorary chairman, but the women all lock themselves in the bathroom and refuse to take part, so the committee are forces to find another bunch of candidates to put on stage. Soon though everyone is running out of the hall, drinks consumed being unpaid for, because the siren sounds because the house of an Old Man (Frantisek Svet) is on fire, but snow is causing the fire engine to get stuck, so they are unable to put out the fire, only to save furniture from the house. The fire fighters decide to help the old man by letting him get all the prizes in the lottery, but almost all of them, besides the smaller and less valuable ones, have been stolen, everyone is told to bring back whatever they have taken, but in a moment of darkness the rest are taken also. So that their reputation will be saved the fire committee members move back stage to discuss the situation at the ball, but they return to see everyone has gone, apart from the honorary chairman, and when they want to give him the axe in the gift box this has been stolen as well. Also starring Jan Vostrcil as Head of Committee, Frantisek Debelka as Committee Member #1, Josef Sebánek as Committee Member #2, Josef Valnoha as Committee Member #3, Josef Rehorek as Committee Member #4, Vratislav Cermák as Committee Member #5, Václav Novotný as Committee Member #6, Frantisek Reinstein as Committee Member #7, Frantisek Paska as Committee Member #8, Ladislav Adam as Committee Member #9, Jan Stöckl as Retired Fire Chief, Stanislav Holubec as Karel and Josef Kutálek as Ludva. You do not need to have knowledge of Czech politics to enjoy most of this film, it portrays the time setting of the 1950's pretty well, it mocks the incompetence and lack of manners of the characters, the comedy parts mostly come from the moments of idiocy as a celebratory event goes wrong, it is a likable political satire. Very good!

Petri Pelkonen The volunteer fire department in a small Czech town organizes a ball in a town hall with lottery and a beauty contest.They also plan to give a small fire axe as a 86- year old birthday gift to their honorary chairman who has a cancer (which he doesn't know).But things start going as wrong as they possibly could.Hori, Má Panenko (The Firemen's Ball) from 1967 is directed by Milos Forman.The other of its producers is Carlo Ponti.The movie uses mostly no real actors.The firemen are real firemen of the small town where it is set.But all of those people do a fine job.Jan Vostrcil plays Head of Committee.Josef Sebánek is Committee Member #2.Jan Stöckl is Retired Fire Chief.The movie has got some scenes to make you amused.It's most amusing when the man and the woman go under the table to play with each other.And when one of the beauty contestants takes off her clothes.Or when the old man starts walking towards the stage.This is the first film Forman shot in color.It is also the last film he made in his native Czechoslovakia.Then he went on to America to make some classics.