Stowaway in the Sky

Stowaway in the Sky (French: Le Voyage en ballon) is a 1960 French family adventure film, in Dyaliscope and Eastman Color, directed by Albert Lamorisse.[1]

Stowaway in the Sky
U.K. Theatrical Poster
Directed byAlbert Lamorisse
Produced byAlbert Lamorisse
Written byAlbert Lamorisse
Narrated byJack Lemmon
Music byJean Prodromidès
CinematographyMaurice Fellous
Guy Tabary
Edited byPierre Gillette
Distributed byFilms Montsouris
Lopert Pictures Corporation
Release date
September 14, 1960
(France)
June 18, 1962
(United States)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench

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."[2]

Awards

Wins

Nominations

  • Venice Film Festival: Golden Lion; Le Voyage en ballon; 1960.

Footnotes
  1. Stowaway in the Sky at IMDb.
  2. Time, film review, July 13, 1962.
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