Le ballon rouge (1956)

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:

Balloon | Red Balloon | Color In Title | Children | Very Little Dialogue

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)
• Home Vision Cinema (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• 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 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.

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:

Spoofed in "ChuckleVision: Magnetic Distraction:: Part 1 (#15.5)" (2003)

Timeless Classic

I can't recall where I first saw this film I only remember that I was very young and that it left a lasting impression on me. It was some 20 years later that I saw it again only for the second time and it brought back such fond memories. For me this movie is magical and brings out feelings of love, sadness and finally one of sear joy. I feel this is a movie for all ages and is a timeless classic. I've seen many movies over the years and for a movie to stay with you like this one has for me says something. Sadly I have had a hard time trying to find this movie in video stores and it rarely runs on TV which is unfortunate. But to the general public if you ever get the chance to see this classic by all means do.