FIVE WEEKS IN A BALLOON

US, 1962, 101 Minutes, Colour.
Red Buttons, Fabian, Barbara Eden, Cedric Hardwicke, Peter Lorre, Richard Haydn, Barbara Luna, Herbert Marshall, Henry Daniell.
Directed by Irwin Allen.

Five Weeks in a Balloon is one of the films made in the early 60s at a time when there was a great interest in’ the writings of Jules Verne and cinema versions of these novels. The emphasis was on colour, wide-screen, and guest stars. This is quite an enjoyable adventure, although it is geared to younger audiences and the acting and the directing is fairly straightforward (or perhaps heavy-handed). It was directed by Irwin Allen who was to achieve fame in the early 70s with his productions of The Poseidon Adventure and Towering Inferno. This is quite a successful film as junior Verne material.

1. Audience expectations of this kind of 'Saturday matinee' adventure? How well were expectations fulfilled?

2. The interest and attractiveness of a Jules Verne story? Modern inventions echoed and anticipated in the 19th century? A world of magic and wonder?

3. The film's tone of farce, high adventure, anticipation of science-fiction? How well done?

4. The film's colour, widescreen, the details of the balloon, the aerial photography, the different countries etc.?

5. The opening with the workings of the balloon? Dangers, thrills, beauty? The creation of an atmosphere for the adventures?

6. The structure of the journey: the professor and his work, proving his invention, Empire taking over in the quest for Queen Victoria's rule, the emphasis of the slave issue, the quest for exploration and Empire? How well were these integrated? Giving some impetus to the film and some suspense?

7. The character of the professor, a 19th Century inventor, serious and skilful? His handling of the whole journey?

8. Jacques? His skill, his youth? His attractiveness and singing? His rescuing Makia? His role in the adventures? Romance?

9. O'Shay: the American, his escaping from the slaves and rescuing the slaves, his stupidity and mistakes, his endearing himself to the group, his heroism at the end?

10. Susan as heroine? How attractive, that she was rescued, her misjudging of Donald, the final romance?

11. Makia and some exotic feminine interest? Her being rescued, her role in the adventures, romance?

12. Ahmed and the nasty Arab? His change of attitude? The comic touch?

13. Sir Henry and his pomposity? The ridiculing of English snobbery and pomposity?

14. How interesting were the details of the flight, in Africa, the animals, escaping from the slavers, the balloon escaping, holes in the balloon and dangers?

15. The visit to the central African city, the Sheik, the threat of death, the rescue?

16. The pictures of the slavers and the attack on their immorality? Beating the slavers with the flag? The final fight-out and the waterfall etc.?

17. How good a film for children was this? The adventure ingredients, the social themes? moulders of characters?