Five Weeks in a Balloon is a 1962 science fiction adventure film loosely based on the novel of the same name by Jules Verne filmed in CinemaScope. It was produced and directed by Irwin Allen; his last feature film in the 1960s before moving to producing several science fiction television series. Though set in Africa, it was filmed in California. Balloonist Donald Piccard acted as the film's technical advisor. For visual effects, a model of the balloon was used as well as a full-sized unicorn gondola hung on a crane. The film opens with a theme song performed by The Brothers Four and a... colorful animation of hot air balloons, with artwork reminiscent of the Montgolfier balloons. The theme song is later performed by Fabian twice during the film. The film then transitions to showing the flight of the balloon Jupiter invented by Professor Fergusson . In the unicorn-shaped gondola, the passengers Chiddingfold and Sir Henry Vining scream in horror as the balloon rapidly descends, but the Professor remains calm as he planned for this to happen.
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| Release date: | 1962 |
| Directed by: | Irwin Allen |
| Rated: |  |
| Runtime: | 101 Minutes |
| Music by: | Paul Sawtell |
| Cinematography: | Winton Hoch |
| Genre: | Adventure, Comedy, Action |