Stowaway in the Sky

Infobox Film
name = Stowaway in the Sky


image_size =
caption = U.K. Theatrical Poster
director = Albert Lamorisse
producer = Albert Lamorisse
writer = Albert Lamorisse
narrator = Jack Lemmon
starring =
music = Jean Prodromidès
cinematography = Maurice Fellous Guy Tabary
editing = Pierre Gillette
distributor = Films Montsouris Lopert Pictures Corporation
released = September 14, 1960 (France) June 18, 1962 (United States)
runtime = 85 minutes
country = France
language = French
budget =
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id = 1:53026
imdb_id = 0056667

"Stowaway in the Sky" (French: "Le Voyage en ballon") is a 1960 French family adventure film, directed by Albert Lamorisse. [imdb title|id=0056667|title=Stowaway in the Sky.]

Albert Lamorisse used his ten year old son Pascal as the main character in the film.

Plot

The film tells the story of Pascal, a small child who's fascinated by his grandfather's lighter-than-air balloon. The older man claims he's invented the best mode of transportation: a balloon that can be controlled when in the sky. The altitude, direction, and speed of the balloon are all under the direction of the pilot.

As the "grand-père" takes the balloon on a demonstration, Pascal climbs on board and lifts them both upward to an adventure. The balloon travels all around France, Brittany, over the ocean, and over "Mont Blanc" in the Alps.

However, the balloon turns out to be not so controllable: church spires become objects of threat, factory smokestacks become volcano-like, a stag hunt is no longer about the thrill of the chase, and they inadvertently kidnap washing on a clothesline and a guest at a wedding party in Brittany.

The land-bound adults have conniptions as the balloon wafts by, yet, Pascal has a great time.

Background

Jack Lemmon, the narrator of the film's English version, was so impressed with the film that he bought the American rights.

Cast

* Pascal Lamorisse as Pascal
* Maurice Baquet as "Le mécanicien"
* André Gille as "Le grand-père" (grandfather)
* Jack Lemmon as Narrator (English version narrator)

Critical reception

In a brief film review of the film the weekly news magazine "Time" wrote, "Stowaway in the Sky" will enchant moppet, matron and greybeard with its breath-catching, balloonist's-eye view of the fair land of France." [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,827449,00.html "Time] , film review, July 13, 1962.]

Awards

Wins
* Venice Film Festival: OCIC Award; "Le Voyage en ballon"; 1960.

Nominations
* Venice Film Festival: Golden Lion; "Le Voyage en ballon"; 1960.

Footnotes

External links

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