BUY NOW FROM KRITZERLAND
For its latest release, the Kritzerland label has turned to a classic film in which music is very nearly a central character. Though it won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, writer-director Albert Lamorisse's 1956 The Red Balloon (Le Ballon Rouge) has very little dialogue. Many scenes of its whimsical story play only with music, and others just with natural sound. Now, the movie's bewitching score by Maurice Le Roux is coming to disc for the very first time in a two-for-one release, paired with Jean Prodromides' score to Lamorisse's next picture, 1960's Le Voyage en Ballon.
The Red Balloon tells simply of a young boy who finds a red balloon and of the relationship that follows. Though only 35 minutes long, the movie has captivated generations of audiences with its simple, wondrous and affecting tale. Starring the director's son Pascal and also featuring his daughter Sabine, The Red Balloon was shot in Paris by cinematographer Edmond Sechan and scored by Maurice Le Roux. Kritzerland's Bruce Kimmel describes the film's beguiling soundtrack: "Le Roux's score hits all of the film's emotional bases and does so simply, effectively, and beautifully. The film begins with his gorgeous, lyrical main theme, and the rest of the score musically tells this wonderful story brilliantly, whether playful (the balloon tormenting the headmaster of the school, the magical sequence of the red balloon flirting with a little girl's blue balloon), or tense when the bullies steal the balloon, and then the stunning sequence when all the balloons of Paris unite and find Pascal, and lift him into the skies for his joyous, exhilarating ride over the city."
The soundtrack is joined by Jean Prodromides' work for Le Voyage en Ballon (a.k.a. Stowaway in the Sky). Narrated in its English version by Jack Lemmon, the film again centers on young Pascal and a balloon; this time the director crafted a full-length family adventure. Kritzerland promises that "Prodromidès' score for Le Voyage en Ballon is filled with beautiful themes that, like the film itself, take flight, and it takes the listener on a musical journey that is truly breathtaking."
The score of The Red Balloon has been beautifully restored from acetates by Chris Malone; the original tapes, alas, have never surfaced so this presentation is likely the best this significant score will ever sound. Malone has also done new work on Le Voyage, making sure that it sounds better than previous CD reissues.
This limited edition of 1,000 units is available now for pre-order from Kritzerland at the link below. CDs will ship by the second week of September, but the label usually ships pre-orders an average of three to five weeks earlier! You can check out the track listing below!
Original Soundtracks, The Red Balloon/Le Voyage en Ballon (Kritzerland, 2016)
THE RED BALLOON (Composed and conducted by Maurice Le Roux)
- Main Titles
- Pascal Finds the Red Balloon
- School/Balloon in the Rain
- Home
- Balloon Games
- Detention/Following the Headmaster
- Tormenting the Headmaster/Free from Detention/Flirting Balloons
- Church/Pastries/Stolen Balloon/Rescued Balloon/Death of the Balloon
- Balloons Unite/Pascal in Flight
Composed and Conducted by Maurice Le Roux
LE VOYAGE EN BALLON (Composed and Conducted by Jean Prodromidès)
- Generique - Introduction/Les Cloches de Bethune
- Envoi
- Ballet de la Chemise Blanche
- Alsace/Les Vosges
- Paris
- Chenoceaux/La Chasse
- Les Grands Voliers/Goemons
- Poursuite en Bretagne
- Les Alpes/Les Glaciers
- Provence
- Camargue/Les Taureaux/Les Flamands Roses
- Finale
Sometimes when I'm overdosed on Hollywood French movies is just the thing that's needed to regain my balance. Will indeed see and hear The Red Balloon.