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As a promotional gimmick people who bought tickets for the film were given a "motion sickness pill".<ref>https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054883/</ref>
As a promotional gimmick people who bought tickets for the film were given a "motion sickness pill".<ref>https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054883/</ref>
==Plot==
In Africa, a Hindu holds British explorer Sir Hubert prisioner. Sir Hubert has discovered the hidden tomb where Cleopatra's treasure is buried and wants the location, but won't tell


The Hindu goes to England and persuades the London Geographical Society into organizing a rescue mission, consisting of the Hindu, Dr Faraday the explorer, and Ellen, Sir Hubert's fiancee. They travel by balloon to Africa and arrive at the fortress.

The Hindu has Ellen tortured, but Sir Hubert refuses to give up the location of the treasure, and says he never loved Ellen. Faraday rescues them but Sir Hubert dies trying to load the balloon with chests of treasure.

Faraday and Ellen escape but are forced to throw away the treasure in order to keep aloft. However they have fallen in love.
==Cast==
==Cast==
*[[Mala Powers]] as Ellen Burton
*[[Mala Powers]] as Ellen Burton

Revision as of 21:43, 15 January 2019

Flight of the Lost Balloon
Original film poster
Directed byNathan Juran
Written byNathan Juran
Produced byBernard Woolner
Jacques R. Marquette
StarringMala Powers
Marshall Thompson
CinematographyJacques Marquette
Music byHal Borne
Production
company
W.M.J. Productions
Distributed byWoolner Brothers
Release date
December 28, 1961
Running time
91 min.
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$75,000[1]

Flight of the Lost Balloon is a 1961 film produced, written and directed by Nathan Juran that was filmed in Puerto Rico.[2][3]

It stars Mala Powers and Marshall Thompson[4] with the working title being Cleopatra and the Cyclops.[5][6]

The film was inspired by Jules Verne's Five Weeks in a Balloon and beat the major Irwin Allen film release of the book to the cinemas.[7] However the name of Jules Verne was dropped and was nowhere to be found in the credits, though the name of Verne's balloon, the Victoria, remained.

As a promotional gimmick people who bought tickets for the film were given a "motion sickness pill".[8]

Plot

In Africa, a Hindu holds British explorer Sir Hubert prisioner. Sir Hubert has discovered the hidden tomb where Cleopatra's treasure is buried and wants the location, but won't tell

The Hindu goes to England and persuades the London Geographical Society into organizing a rescue mission, consisting of the Hindu, Dr Faraday the explorer, and Ellen, Sir Hubert's fiancee. They travel by balloon to Africa and arrive at the fortress.

The Hindu has Ellen tortured, but Sir Hubert refuses to give up the location of the treasure, and says he never loved Ellen. Faraday rescues them but Sir Hubert dies trying to load the balloon with chests of treasure.

Faraday and Ellen escape but are forced to throw away the treasure in order to keep aloft. However they have fallen in love.

Cast

Production

Nathan Juran agreed to make the film because he had a percentage of the profits. It was produced by the Woolner brothers who had directed the director on Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.

"I wanted to become independent of the major studios," said Juran. "I was always looking for a small entrepreneur with whom I could grow as a partner in the company. I thought it might have worked out with the Woolners, but they were just the wrong people for me. They were real schlock guys. I owned one quarter of Lost Balloon but they stole all the money."[1]

In May 1960 the Woolners signed Marshall Thompson and James Lanphier to star in the film. Lanphier was taking part under a three picture contract with the Woolners, the other films of which were to be Adventures of Captain Kidd and Thunder Over San Juan.[10]

It was shot over ten days in Puerto Rico from Ma to June 1961. Shooting was extremely difficult as there were no studio facilities.[1][11]

Reception

The Los Angeles Times reviewer said "I could hardly wait to escape".[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Swires, Steve (May 1989). "Nathan Juran: The Fantasy Voyages of Jerry the Giant Killer Part Two". Starlog Magazine. No. 142. p. 58.
  2. ^ p. 206 Weaver, Tom Jacque Marquette Interview in Double Feature Creature Attack: A Monster Merger of Two More Volumes of Classic Interviews McFarland, 2003
  3. ^ FLIGHT OF THE LOST BALLOON Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 30, Iss. 348, (Jan 1, 1963): 7.
  4. ^ http://allmovie.com/work/flight-of-the-lost-balloon-91742
  5. ^ p.234 Taves, Brian, Michaluk, Stephen & Baxter, Edward The Jules Verne Encyclopedia Scarecrow Press, 1996
  6. ^ Big-Names Roster in 'West' Growing: Hardy Kruger to Star Self; Better Race Relations Told Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 28 Apr 1961: B11.
  7. ^ p.234 Taves, Brian, Michaluk, Stephen & Baxter, Edward The Jules Verne Encyclopedia Scarecrow Press, 1996
  8. ^ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054883/
  9. ^ "New York Beat," Jet 13 Jun 1963
  10. ^ Haya Harareet Busy in European Films Los Angeles Times 5 May 1961: B11.
  11. ^ Winters Makes Film Debut as Voice Only Los Angeles Times 22 May 1961: B11.
  12. ^ 'Lost Balloon' Drama of Treasure, Trouble Scott, John L. Los Angeles Times 18 Jan 1962: A12.


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