Let the Balloon Go (1976)

While his brother is fighting in WWI, a small independent Australian boy who lives in the countryside with his overbearing mother and pet dog and who must wear a leg brace decides to overcome his handicap no matter what.

Director:

Oliver Howes

Writers:

Cliff Green (additional dialogue), Oliver Howes

Stars:

Robert Bettles, Janet Kingsbury, John Ewart

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Bettles	...	John Sumner
Janet Kingsbury	...	Mrs. Sumner (as Jan Kingsbury)
John Ewart	...	PC Baird
Ben Gabriel	...	Mr. Sumner
Sally Whiteman	...	Mamie
Mathew Wilson	...	Cecil
Terry McQuillan	...	Harry
Bruce Spence	...	Chief Gifford
Ken Goodlet	...	Major Fairleigh (as Kenneth Goodlet)
Ray Barrett	...	Dr. McLeod
Nigel Lovell	...	The Parson
Babette Stephens	...	Mrs. Braithwaite
Brian Anderson	...	Scott Griffiths
Phillip Ross	...	Goff Vockler
Charlie Metcalfe	...	Bob Lee

Storyline

While his brother is fighting in WWI, a small independent Australian boy who lives in the countryside with his overbearing mother and pet dog and who must wear a leg brace decides to overcome his handicap no matter what.

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Plot Keywords:

family relationships | polio | based on novel | independent film | 

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Taglines:

A boy's first step towards manhood - like the balloon - he wants to be free!

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Genres:

Drama | Family

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

March 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Anna pallon lentää

Filming Locations:

Carcoar, New South Wales, Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film Australia

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of two Australian movies both debuting in 1976 where the then child actor Robert Bettles played a character with a disease or disability. In Let the Balloon Go (1976) his character has poliomyelitis (aka polio and infantile paralysis) whilst in The Fourth Wish (1976) his character has terminal leukaemia.

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