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The Red Balloon (1956)
"Le ballon rouge" (original title)

 -  Family | Fantasy | Short  -  11 March 1957 (USA)
8.1
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Ratings: 8.1/10 from 7,662 users  
Reviews: 71 user | 33 critic

A red balloon with a life of its own follows a little boy around the streets of Paris.

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Title: The Red Balloon (1956)

The Red Balloon (1956) on IMDb 8.1/10

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Won 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins. See more awards »

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Cast

Credited cast:
...
Pascal - le petit garçon
Georges Sellier ...
Le marchand
Vladimir Popov ...
Un locataire
Paul Perey
Sabine Lamorisse ...
La petite fille au ballon bleu
Michel Pezin
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Renée Marion ...
La mère de Pascal
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Storyline

A boy makes friends with a seemingly sentient balloon, and it begins to follow him. It follows the boy to school, to the bus, and to church. Boy and balloon play together in the streets of Paris and try to elude a gang of boys that wants to destroy the balloon. Winner of the Best Original Screenplay Oscar, and there is almost no dialog spoken in the film. Written by alfiehitchie

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Genres:

Family | Fantasy | Short

Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

11 March 1957 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

The Red Balloon  »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

First film of singer Renaud, aged three. See more »

Goofs

For a brief instant, a wire can be seen attached to balloon as boy waits to cross street. Wire stands out against blue coat of man standing behind him looking on as the boy waits for intersection to clear. See more »

Crazy Credits

With the cooperation of the balloons of the Paris area. See more »

Connections

Spoofed in ChuckleVision: Magnetic Distraction:: Part 1 (2003) See more »

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User Reviews

 
Wonderful Cinematic Gem
1 September 2001 | by (Forest Ranch, CA) – See all my reviews

THE RED BALLOON rescued by a small Parisian lad will transform his life in unbelievable ways.

This is a marvelous film, full of love & hope, searing sorrow & overwhelming joy. It is also a classic example of what can be done in a very limited time frame, with a compelling story and genius behind the camera.

The special effects are still entrancing, with wonderful editing & camerawork which turns the byways & alleys of old Paris into the canvas on which this fantasy is painted.

Director Albert Lamorisse's young son, Pascal, is the very fortunate star of this urban fairy tale.

If the tribulations & persecutions of the Red Balloon appear to be a type of Epiphany, that is probably no coincidence.


28 of 28 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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Am I the only one who thought this movie was good? kellyleighcrutcher
Netflix has Red Balloon AND White Mane kurtmeg-2
I seem to remember there being a sequel stitchfan82
The Revenge of the Red Balloon venton_thorn
Anyone know of DVD region 2 version? p_wrighton
LaserDisc version of The Red Balloon is terrific. dale-247
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