Le ballon rouge (1956)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Albert Lamorisse

Writer:

Albert Lamorisse (written by)

Release Date:

11 March 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Fantasy | Short

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Boy | Balloon | Red Balloon | Chase | Paris France

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 3 wins

Cast

Pascal Lamorisse	...	Pascal the Boy
Georges Sellier	...	Shopkeeper
Vladimir Popov	...	Tennant
Paul Perey
René Marion	...	Pascal's Father
Sabine Lamorisse	...	Pascal's Mother
Michel Pezin
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Renaud	...	Twin in red (uncredited)
David Séchan	...	Twin in red (uncredited)

Directed by
Albert Lamorisse

Writing credits
Albert Lamorisse		(written by)

Produced by
Albert Lamorisse	....	producer

Original Music by
Maurice Leroux		(as Maurice Le Roux)

Cinematography by
Edmond Séchan

Film Editing by
Pierre Gillette

Production Management
Michel Pezin	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Edmond Agabra	....	assistant director
André Fontaine	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Pierre Vuillemin	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Pierre Goupil	....	assistant camera

Production Companies

• Films Montsouris

Distributors

• Sound & Media (2008) (UK) (all media)
• Lopert Pictures Corporation (1957) (USA) (theatrical) (no subtitles)
• Park Circus (2008) (UK) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1961) (USA) (TV) (network premiere)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (1999) (USA) (TV)
• Nickelodeon Network (2000) (USA) (TV)
• Showtime Networks (2001) (USA) (TV)
• Janus Films (2007) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Criterion Collection, The (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Cafegroove (2008) (Japan) (theatrical) (restored version)
• Crest International (2008) (Japan) (theatrical) (restored version)
• Atypfilm (2009) (Czech Republic) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Nonesuch Records  soundtrack

Also Known As:

The Red Balloon (USA) (new title)

Runtime:

34 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Switzerland:0 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:0 (canton of Geneva) | USA:Approved | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | South Korea:All | Australia:G | Argentina:Atp | Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company:

Films Montsouris

Trivia:

This film had its American network television premiere as a special episode of "General Electric Theater" (1953) on CBS in 1961. However, it was broadcast in black and white.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: 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.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Zomergasten: (#11.4)" (1998)

Mesmerizing!

I wonder, is there any other 30 minute short produced in the history of film that is more enchanting and moving than "Le Ballon rouge"?

The vivid colors and the wonderful use of Paris scenery is only part of the experience, another large part is the touching performance by the director's six year old son Pascal in the lead (how lucky he didn't fall and break his neck in that opening scene where he finds the balloon!). The look on his face in the final scene is every bit as heartbreaking as that of Jackie Coogan in Chaplin's legendary "The Kid". The whole movie is reminiscent of the best Chaplin had to offer, mixed with a little Jacques Tati and a touch of storybook fantasy. On the basis of only *one* *short* film Albert Lamorisse will forever see his name in gold print in the annals of movie history, which is quite an achievement!

It will tear your heart with joy, fascination, sorrow and spellbind you with jubilation in just 30 minutes! A true classic, well deserving of it's screenplay Oscar, only a demon could be cold enough in his heart to dislike it!

Now pleeeaaase; release it on DVD!