THE RED BALLOON on DVD for the first time!

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 4/29/08 at 10:44am

YAY!!! Who else watched this when they were kids in school? So brilliant!

From Nerve.com:

Winning awards at both Cannes and the Oscars in 1956, Albert Lamorisse's The Red Balloon has, in the last fifty years become a short-form classic. It's long been a classroom staple throughout the world, and the film it inspired, Hou Hsiao-hsien's Flight of the Red Balloon is currently playing in limited release to enthusiastic reviews. The Red Balloon makes its DVD premiere this week as the centerpiece of the latest Criterion box set, Three Children's Classics. The set also includes Lamorisse's 1953 short White Mane and William Mason's 1966 film Paddle to the Sea, both of which are also making their DVD debut. At a time when most entertainment geared to kids seems concerned primarily with feeling current, these three films are in the tradition of classic family entertainments that stimulate their imaginations without pandering or condescending. Even if you don't have children of your own, they're well worth buying for yourself.

[D2]

Posted: 4/29/08 at 10:52am

I loved that movie!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/29/08 at 11:03am

Me, too. I haven't see it in ages, but it's amazing that just thinking of this movie brings a smile to my face.

[blueroses]

Posted: 4/29/08 at 11:58am

I loved this movie, too!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/29/08 at 12:01pm

I always wondered if other kids had to watch this movie in school. We watched it every year in elementary school, though I'm not sure why. I really don't remember much about it, but I definitely want to rent it to see it again.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/29/08 at 12:04pm

I never watched it in school, but I saw it in a movie theatre on a re-release.

The DVD has a fully restored print, and it's supposed to look fantastic. I've already ordered mine!

TRIVIA: The Red Balloon won an Oscar for the Best Original Screenplay of 1956, and remains to this day, the only short film to win an Academy Award outside of its own category.

[tazber]

Posted: 4/29/08 at 12:08pm

Never seen it, but have always wanted to. Very exciting!

[blueroses]

Posted: 4/29/08 at 12:37pm

best, there was also little or no dialogue...making the win even more impressive!

P.S. Borstal, thank you for the news. It's a beautiful movie and one I'll definitely be ordering it.
Updated On: 4/29/08 at 12:37 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/29/08 at 12:41pm

"I always wondered if other kids had to watch this movie in school."

I liked the movie the first 25 times I saw it. After that, I wanted the kid to shove his red balloon.

From Kindergarten to 5th Grade, everytime there was a rainy day, the teachers would pull out this movie and show it in the cafeteria. I think they were trying to set a world's record or maybe it was the only film the school owned.

Years later, Nena came out with her 99 Luftballoons song. I wish we had that song to sing while sitting through our 150th showing.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 4/29/08 at 12:46pm

THE RED BALLOON is a sweet little film, certainly, I like it a good deal. But I've never understood the fevered adoration it has always gotten.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 4/29/08 at 12:52pm

I checked on IMDB, and it seems that the film was nominated for (and won) the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay in 1957, but it wasn't nominated in the Short Film categories.

Anyone have any idea why?

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/29/08 at 1:58pm

I'm guessing it wasn't eligible for one reason or another. It wasn't nominated at all in that category. Maybe they didn't allow international submissions in the short film categories back then. Who knows?

I love that it won the Best Original Screenplay award though... and with virtually no dialogue in the film at all. Well-deserved! It's a beautiful story.