Billy Wilder clearly had a penchant for fairy stories and having fashioned Cinderella into Midnight he turned his attention to Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs a couple of years later and came up with Ball Of Fire in which the seven dwarfs were compiling a dictionary of Slang. Ball of Fire appeared in 1941 and Howard Hawks remade it seven years later with the dwarfs now engaged in compiling a history of Jazz complete with musical examples. For reasons mostly unfathomable Benny Goodman was given a speaking part as one of the Professors whilst the actors are supplemented by the likes of Charlie Barnet, Louis Armstrong, Tommy Dorsey, Mel Powell, Lionel Hampton and Buck and Bubbles. Whilst light years short of Wilder's script this does have the merit of the real jazz musicians to compensate for the acting of Danny Kaye, Virginia Mayo and Steve Cochran, woefully inadequate replacements for Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck and Dana Andrews.

Honey Swanson finds out that her gangster boyfriend is under investigation by the police, she hides out at a musical research institute run by Professor Hobart Frisbee. The institute is run purely by bachelors, and the arrival of Honey turns heads in more ways than one, especially the affable Frisbee.Howard Hawks remakes his 1941 film Ball of Fire, only where that film had the main protagonists learning about slang, A Song Is Born is a musical based around delightful swing and jazz. As many of the other users here have pointed out, this is a must for music fans, the music is quite simply brilliant, boasting the talents of Louis Armstrong, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Charlie Barnet, Mel Powell and Lionel Hampton, it's no small wonder that the film is an immense foot tapper from the top draw.However, not much is said as regards the other good stuff available in the picture, for instance those who have an aversion to Danny Kaye need not worry here, he has been reigned in by Hawks to give a very subtle comedy performance, yes, a little trade mark pratfall here and there exists, but it's a highly effective and charming turn from him. Rarely mentioned, also, is the sultry and pleasing turn from Viriginia Mayo, she looks fab and some of her scenes are a joy to observe, witness her first sequence at the institute, where the old boys get hot under the collar as she whirls her sexuality, I know how they feel, because I was feeling it too!This is a smashing film, one that had me grinning all the way through, a big foot tapper with heart and smiles, well that will do for me."Ever since that woman crossed this threshold, a prairie fire of orgiastic events has swept thru this house" 8/10

I have seen "Ball of Fire", and I disagree with the previous comment. Even if you HAVE seen the "original", Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo make this one enjoyable movie! There are quite a few hilarious moments, and the music is just great.While I did see "Ball of Fire", I'd have to say I enjoyed "A Song Is Born" much much more. I'm not a huge fan of Barbara Stanwyck, who was the gangster girlfriend in "..Fire", and I think Virginia Mayo was a great leading lady for Danny Kaye. Even thought her acting was a tad, tiny bit on the wooden side. She's a great "straight man" for Danny's antics.My favorite scene in the movie is when the gangsters have all the professors and musicians captive and they are playing music to effect an escape to rescue Miss Honey from being forced to marry Tony Crow. Great use of "The Anvil Chorus"!! If you've never seen a Danny Kaye movie, this is a good one to start with.

I have this on a vhs and watch it from time to time. Apart from the musical sequences, the story pleases me because Danny Kaye is taken for an idiot by the young lady but in the end she falls in love with him ! It is a pleasure to watch the way her attitude changes. There are not many films with this kind of story, so when I see one I like to treasure it ! In addition to this the musical sequences are memorable with well-known stars. Hopefully they will put it onto Dvd but unfortunately the DVD industry seems to have forgotten about Danny Kaye !