Rating: NR
Genre: Children's/Family
Release Date: 04/29/2008
SubTitles: English
Dubbed: French
Sound: DD1
Run Time: 34 Minutes
Flags: Child Classic
Distributor/Studio: Criterion

Most of French director Albert Lamorisse's films celebrate the miracle of flight, but few were as landmark as his 1956 short subject The Red Balloon. The story, told with a minimum of dialogue, concerns a little boy (played by the director's son Pascal) who comes across a helium-filled balloon. As he plays with his new acquisition, the boy discovers that the balloon seemingly has a mind of its own. The little red orb follows its new "master" all through the streets of Paris, then dogs the boy's trail into the schoolroom, which drives the teacher to comic distraction. Towards the end, it seems as though boy and balloon will be parted forever....but director Lamorisse has a delightful surprise in store for us. In an unusual move, The Red Balloon in its American TV premiere was introduced by Ronald Reagan as an episode of the CBS anthology G.E. Theater on April 2, 1961.

~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Be the first to review this product!

Cast:
Pascal Lamorisse -

Production:
Albert Lamorisse - Director
Films Montsouris - Producer
Maurice LeRoux - Composer
Pierre Gillette - Editor
Albert Lamorisse - Screen Writer
Edmond Sechan - Cinematographer
Pierre Vuillemin - Sound/Sound Designer
Michel Pezin - Production Director

White Mane [Criterion Collection]
    Alain Emery / NR / 1952

1956 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie

1956 Cannes Film Festival

1956 British Academy of Film and Television

1957 National Board of Review

1956 French Film Critics Circle