Main Cast: Red Buttons, Fabian, Barbara Eden, Cedric Hardwicke, Peter Lorre, Herbert Marshall
Release Year: 1962
Country: US
Run Time: 101 minutes
Plot
With Five Weeks in a Balloon, 20th Century-Fox hoped to cash on the success of the studio's earlier Jules Verne adaptation Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1959). The plot is set in motion when 19th-century explorer Fergusson (Sir Cedric Hardwicke) volunteers to head a balloon expedition to claim an otherwise unreachable chunk of African territory for the British Empire. Along for the ride are reporter Donald O'Shay (Red Buttons), absent-minded professor Sir Henry Vining (Richard Haydn), Vining's assistant Jacques (Fabian) and schoolmarm Susan Gale (Barbara Eden). Along the way, the little party acquires another passenger when they rescue native girl Makia (Barbara Luna) from a slave trader. Their many near-death experiences include a run-in with evil potentate Sheik Ageiba (Henry Daniell). Other reliable characters on hand include Peter Lorre, Herbert Marshall, Reginald Owen, Mike Mazurki, and, in a dual role, sneezemaster Billy Gilbert. Since no one could be expected to take this sort of fare seriously, Five Weeks in a Balloon is played tongue-in-cheek, peppered with such overripe dialogue as "You, sir, are a cad!" and "Kismet! We are doomed!" ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Silly but colorful, Five Weeks in a Balloon will probably be quite entertaining for very young viewers but will likely tax the patience of those above the age of 10 or 11. The Jules Verne novel that is its source is hardly a classic, but the screenplay derived from it is a decidedly slapdash affair. Given its source, it can hardly help but be episodic, but the writers have done a very poor job of providing the illusion that these episodes really add up to a greater whole. More damaging, they've provided intentionally overripe dialogue that wears out its welcome rather quickly. A better director than Irwin Allen might have been able to do something with the screenplay's tone, but all Allen does is play it for cheap laughs. The adventure sequences come off well, at least, and visually the film has a lot going for it. The cast tries hard, but Red Buttons is miscast, Fabian is embarrassing, and Cedric Hardwicke seems a bit tired. Barbara Eden is good, Peter Lorre entertaining and Barbara Luna attractive, at least. The title song is ridiculous, but it's catchy at least. As stated earlier, for kids this will provide a pleasant diversion, but adults will probably want to steer clear. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Jack Martin Smith - Art Director, Alfred Ybarra - Art Director, Paul Zastupnevich - Costume Designer, Ad Schaumer - First Assistant Director, Irwin Allen - Director, George Boemler - Editor, Paul Sawtell - Composer (Music Score), Ben Nye, Sr. - Makeup, Winton Hoch - Cinematographer, Irwin Allen - Producer, Stuart A. Reiss - Set Designer, Norman Rockett - Set Designer, Walter Scott - Set Designer, Warren B. Delaplain - Sound/Sound Designer, E. Clayton Ward - Sound/Sound Designer, Irwin Allen - Screenwriter, Albert Gail - Screenwriter, Charles Bennett - Screenwriter, Jules Verne - Book Author
