IMDb > Le ballon rouge (1956)
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Le ballon rouge (1956) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
8.1/10   3,246 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Albert Lamorisse
Writer:
Albert Lamorisse (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Red Balloon on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
11 March 1957 (USA) more
Genre:
Family | Fantasy | Short more
Plot:
A red balloon with a life of its own follows a little boy around the streets of Paris. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 3 wins more
User Comments:
Mesmerizing! more (55 total)

Cast

  (Credited 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
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Red Balloon (USA) (new title)
more
Runtime:
34 min
Country:
France
Language:
French
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
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

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
This film had one of the largest non-theatrical runs in the history of American cinema. Thousands of 16-millimeter prints were distributed to schools across the country. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Just after the scene where the boy is turned away from boarding the bus, you see him running off with the balloon in his left hand and the satchel in his right however in the next shot it is reversed. more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in Revenge of the Red Balloon (2000) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
26 out of 27 people found the following comment useful.
Mesmerizing!, 17 November 2003
10/10
Author: Renaldo Matlin from Oslo, Norway

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!

Was the above comment useful to you?
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Special effects bokkenpoot
Am I the only one who thought this movie was good? kellyleighcrutcher
Spoiler Alert! Shemp828
Oscar-winning script sebster1001
The Red ballon(der rote Ballon) deutsches Kinderbuch eyebit
I seem to remember there being a sequel stitchfan82
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