Balloon adventure

[Gerald Lovell]

I don't think it can be The Island at the Top of the World, because that one does not end with the balloon.

[will.15]

I haven't seen it and it's a well known movie, so maybe it would have been brought up if it was a candidate, but The Crimson Pirate apparently has a hot air balloon in the climax and Lancaster and whoever was playing Prudence get in the balloon. A pirate movie would likely have some treasure in it.



I found The Crimson Pirate on youtube and it wasn't easy..like they're hiding it. I had to access it from Google. It has some Slavic language subtitles. Not it and the only female on the balloon is Lancaster in drag. I think the girl might have gotten on the balloon earlier in the movie, but it doesn't appear there is any treasure.

[Euryale]

name='CaptainWaggett' date='09 March 2008 - 09:29 PM' timestamp='1205094567' post='118843']

Saw this one on tv in the mid/late 1970s I think. I've always assumed it's a Doug McClure-type thing though I don't know the actual actors. All I can remember is the final scene (I think it was the final scene) with hero and heroine (possibly in Victorian clothes) in a balloon. They reluctantly jettison all the treasure/ballast and when they are flying safely the heroine reveals she's had a diamond in her mouth all along. Kiss and fade out.

I think this could be Flight of the Lost Balloon (1961).





E

[Euryale]

name='Euryale' date='13 July 2010 - 01:06 AM' timestamp='1278979574' post='451064']

I think this could be Flight of the Lost Balloon (1961).





E

Synopsis from TCM website:



'In an old fortress on the Nile, a despotic Hindu is holding as his prisoner a British explorer, Sir Hubert, who has discovered the hidden tomb where Cleopatra's treasure is buried. Sir Hubert refuses to disclose the location of the jewels, and the Hindu goes to England and tricks the London Geographical Society into organizing a rescue mission. Included in the expedition is Sir Hubert's fiancée, Ellen, whom the Hindu plans to torture until Sir Hubert agrees to talk. A young explorer, Dr. Faraday, convinces the Society that the trip should be made by balloon, and he, Ellen and the Hindu set out for Egypt. After several adventures, including their temporary capture by cannibals and an attack by huge condors, the trio arrive at the Nile fortress. The Hindu has Ellen tortured on a stretching rack, but the greedy Sir Hubert still refuses to divulge his secret. They are both rescued by Faraday, but Sir Hubert dies trying to load the balloon with chests of treasure. Faraday and Ellen make their escape but are forced to jettison the gold and jewels in order to keep the balloon aloft. Ellen, however, saves one diamond for a wedding ring.'



http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054883/





E.

[CaptainWaggett]

"Don't see this picture unless you take the special motion sickness pill provided free at this theater! "



That has to be it Not perhaps the starriest of casts and I'm surprised I didn't remember the condors but I shall not rest until I've tracked it down. Many thanks!

[cornershop15]

name='CaptainWaggett' date='09 March 2008 - 09:29 PM' timestamp='1205094567' post='118843']

Saw this one on tv in the mid/late 1970s I think. I've always assumed it's a Doug McClure-type thing though I don't know the actual actors. All I can remember is the final scene (I think it was the final scene) with hero and heroine (possibly in Victorian clothes) in a balloon. They reluctantly jettison all the treasure/ballast and when they are flying safely the heroine reveals she's had a diamond in her mouth all along. Kiss and fade out.

Congratulations, Euryale (again ). I'm glad you finally found out, Captain It is available on DVD at Amazon.com, priced $9.99:



Amazon.com - Flight of the Lost Balloon (1961)

Sadly, it's presented in a 'pan-and-scan' version rather than it's original widescreen format. The only one of the cast I know is James Lanphier, who was my very first subject at 'Actors We Didn't Recognise Until We Saw The Credits'. He played Claudia Cardinale's manservant in The Pink Panther and, just before he died, the camp chef in The Party - both Peter Sellers films.

[CaptainWaggett]

Well, you're one up on me as I haven't heard of any of the cast . But that's an awesome balloon - though it probably needs to be seen at a drive-in for full effect

[bruiser15]

The lead Marshall Thompson was one of my heros when I was about 5 years old, he was Dr. Marsh Tracy in Daktari. Clarence The Cross Eyed Lion et al.

[will.15]

I remember him, too, from Daktari, but not real well. I was focused on the cross-eyed lion. Captain, Mala Powers was Roxanne in Jose Ferrer's Cyrano movie. Don't expect a classic. My Leonard Maltin TV movie book and the similar one from Scheur both gave it one and a half. It's frustrating a movie with balloon in the title didn't show up when I did a google search.

[darrenburnfan]

I ran Flight Of The Lost Balloon at the Plaza way back in February, 1963. It was a 'Scope film, but that's all I can remember about it, except that I fancied Mala Powers at the time. So I can't say if they jettisoned a lot of stuff from the balloon at the end...although that did happen at the end of Five Weeks In A Balloon. Come to think of it, both films were released at about the same time. I would like to see Flight Of The Lost Balloon again after all these years, but the fact that it's only available on DVD in pan and scan suggests they are using an old video transfer that goes back decades and what needs to be done is a proper wide screen to DVD restoration job on it.

[Euryale]

name='CaptainWaggett' date='13 July 2010 - 06:27 AM' timestamp='1278998840' post='451077']

"Don't see this picture unless you take the special motion sickness pill provided free at this theater! "



That has to be it Not perhaps the starriest of casts and I'm surprised I didn't remember the condors but I shall not rest until I've tracked it down. Many thanks!

In Science Fiction Stars and Horror Heroes by Tom Weaver (2006), it says that the film was made on location in a former leper-colony in Puerto Rico! The book also confirms that Mala does indeed hide a diamond in her mouth.



Don't know if this has already been mentioned but another movie with air-borne Victorian persons is:



Master of the World





Anyway, I'm glad your film has been found - the dialogue from it shown at IMDB looks hilarious, BTW!





E.

[darrenburnfan]

For anyone contemplating buying the DVD of Flight Of The Lost Balloon from amazon.com, I've just been on there and a customer review says that the picture and sound quality of the tape to DVD transfer is truly appalling. Don't waste your money.

[will.15]

I saw Master of the World several times. i knew that wasn't it. It's not a hit air ballon, but a large ship like flying machine. That's a pretty good movie.

[CaptainWaggett]

It's only British tv outing seems to have been on 15th April 1972 -a splendid night's entertainment that was since it was preceded by Doctor Who : The Mutants and the Wonderful World of Disney. I imagine I went to bed after that but the grown-ups could have watched Tarbuck's Luck followed by The Befrienders, whatever that was and Match of the Day.

[cornershop15]

James Lanphier, the Hindu in 'Flight of the Lost Balloon'

name='CaptainWaggett' date='13 July 2010 - 07:37 AM' timestamp='1279003043' post='451089']

Well, you're one up on me as I haven't heard of any of the cast .

Come on, Captain. You've seen The Pink Panther (call yourself a Colin Gordon fan )! You know ... James Lanphier:



As "Claudia Cardinale's manservant" Saloud in The Pink Panther (1963) and "camp chef" Harry in The Party (1968)

Yesterday, at the 'Actors Compendium' thread, I referred to Michael Lees joining forces with Bryan Forbes on seven (cool) films. As if that wasn't impressive enough, James collaborated with writer/producer/director Blake Edwards no fewer than SEVENTEEN times. Something I obviously failed to research during my original post at 'Actors We Don't Recognise ...' last year (I've improved since).



Apart from the aforementioned Peter Sellers movies, the duo worked on such notable classics as Days of Wine and Roses, where James was also dialogue coach, and Breakfast at Tiffany's, as well as five episodes of Peter Gunn. Henry Mancini provided the music for all of these.



I didn't realise until now that James Lanphier was the Garage Attendant in Gambit, who I think Michael Caine meets on his way to seeing Herbert Lom. Amazing. I was really shocked and saddened to hear Blake Edwards say, on the DVD commentary for The Party, that his friend and colleague died not long after they made the classic comedy. He was 48. R.I.P., James.