Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

Five Weeks in a Balloon

  • 19621962
  • PGPG
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Peter Lorre, Red Buttons, Barbara Eden, Fabian, Cedric Hardwicke, Richard Haydn, BarBara Luna, and Chester the Chimp in Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962)
  • Adventure
  • Comedy
  • Drama
In 1862, the British commission inventor Fergusson to claim uncharted land in West Africa for Britain by flying his giant hot air balloon there.In 1862, the British commission inventor Fergusson to claim uncharted land in West Africa for Britain by flying his giant hot air balloon there.In 1862, the British commission inventor Fergusson to claim uncharted land in West Africa for Britain by flying his giant hot air balloon there.
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Irwin Allen
  • Writers
    • Jules Verne(novel "Cinq semaines en ballon")
    • Charles Bennett(screenplay)
    • Irwin Allen(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Red Buttons
    • Fabian
    • Barbara Eden
Top credits
  • Director
    • Irwin Allen
  • Writers
    • Jules Verne(novel "Cinq semaines en ballon")
    • Charles Bennett(screenplay)
    • Irwin Allen(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Red Buttons
    • Fabian
    • Barbara Eden
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 25User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos26

    Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962)
    Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962)
    Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962)
    Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962)
    Barbara Eden, Cedric Hardwicke, and BarBara Luna in Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962)
    Peter Lorre, Red Buttons, Cedric Hardwicke, and Richard Haydn in Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962)
    Red Buttons, Cedric Hardwicke, and Richard Haydn in Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962)
    Henry Daniell and Richard Haydn in Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962)
    Henry Daniell in Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962)
    Peter Lorre, Barbara Eden, Fabian, Cedric Hardwicke, and Richard Haydn in Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962)
    Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962)
    Red Buttons and Barbara Eden in Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Red Buttons
    Red Buttons
    • Donald O'Shayas Donald O'Shay
    Fabian
    Fabian
    • Jacquesas Jacques
    Barbara Eden
    Barbara Eden
    • Susan Galeas Susan Gale
    Cedric Hardwicke
    Cedric Hardwicke
    • Fergussonas Fergusson
    Peter Lorre
    Peter Lorre
    • Ahmedas Ahmed
    Richard Haydn
    Richard Haydn
    • Sir Henry Viningas Sir Henry Vining
    BarBara Luna
    BarBara Luna
    • Makiaas Makia
    • (as Barbara Luna)
    Billy Gilbert
    Billy Gilbert
    • Sultanas Sultan…
    Herbert Marshall
    Herbert Marshall
    • The Prime Ministeras The Prime Minister
    Reginald Owen
    Reginald Owen
    • Consulas Consul
    Henry Daniell
    Henry Daniell
    • Sheik Ageibaas Sheik Ageiba
    Mike Mazurki
    Mike Mazurki
    • Slave Captainas Slave Captain
    Alan Caillou
    Alan Caillou
    • Inspectoras Inspector
    Ben Astar
    Ben Astar
    • Myangaas Myanga
    Raymond Bailey
    Raymond Bailey
    • Randolphas Randolph
    Chester the Chimp
    • The Duchessas The Duchess
    Joe Abdullah
    • Slave Traderas Slave Trader
    • (uncredited)
    Sheila Allen
    Sheila Allen
    • Courtieras Courtier
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Irwin Allen
    • Writers
      • Jules Verne(novel "Cinq semaines en ballon")
      • Charles Bennett(screenplay)
      • Irwin Allen(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw
    6.0
    The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw
    Of Mice and Men
    7.9
    Of Mice and Men
    The Comedy of Terrors
    6.6
    The Comedy of Terrors
    My Darling Clementine
    7.7
    My Darling Clementine
    Jesse James
    7.0
    Jesse James
    Quatermass 2
    6.8
    Quatermass 2
    The Palm Beach Story
    7.5
    The Palm Beach Story
    Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
    6.0
    Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
    Sabata
    6.7
    Sabata
    Last Train from Gun Hill
    7.3
    Last Train from Gun Hill
    Hello Down There
    5.7
    Hello Down There
    Muscle Beach Party
    5.1
    Muscle Beach Party

    Storyline

    Edit
    Professor Fergusson plans to make aviation history by making his way across Africa by balloon. He plans to claim uncharted territories in West Africa as proof of his inventions worth. —Dennis Kytasaari <djk@xnet.com>
    • based on novel
    • africa
    • psychotronic film
    • hot air balloon
    • professor
    • 47 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • TAKE OFF...! For the Gold Coast shores of the Volta! Across 4000 miles of uncharted wilds! On the most incredible air safari of modern time!
    • Genres
      • Adventure
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG for mild violence and thematic elements
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Billy Gilbert's final film.
    • Goofs
      Although the teapot was clearly not in Sir Henry's possession when the Arabs captured them at the oasis, by the time they ended up in the prison it mysteriously appeared wrapped up in his jacket.
    • Quotes

      [the balloon is about to land in the middle of the jungle]

      Sir Henry Vining: It's a forest full of trees!

    • Connections
      Featured in The Great Canadian Supercut (2017)
    • Soundtracks
      Five Weeks In A Balloon
      Written by Urban Thielmann (uncredited) and Jodi Desmond

      Sung by The Brothers Four

    User reviews25

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    A Fun, Flawed Film
    No real arguments here that Five Weeks in a Balloon is infantile, poorly directed and scripted, wasteful of its acting talents, and a general wash in terms of meaningful content. That is all very accurate, yet the film is fun and entertaining. The Jules Verne novel does come to life in stunning color, a cast of notables throughout with the likes of Billy Gilbert, Henry Daniell(both of these men woefully out of place playing Arabs - but still fun to see), beautiful Barbara Eden(not doing much more than looking lovely),Herbert Marshall in one of his last screen roles,the stunning Barbara Luna in a loincloth most of the time, madly overacting Red Buttons, every affable and witty Peter Lorre playing a pseudo-villain, Fabian being Fabian, and the two key and most fun performances to Cedric Harwicke as the leader of the expedition and Richard Hayden as a rival scientist doubting all his finding but eventually coming round. Basically Hayden is playing the same role he played in Lost World, another Irwin Allen picture, when Claude Rains played the scientific renegade out to prove the world wrong. And that is part of the main problem with this film, the script is devoid of any depth, full of flat characterizations, unfunny lines meant to be taken as humour, and animals obviously trained living in the middle of the untamed jungle forest. All are trademarks of Allen's work - just watch Lost in Space sometime. Yet, as I said, it is fun. It's almost camp in a way and never tries taking itself seriously and that helps the sell work for me at least. As soon as you sit down to watch the movie, this incredibly melodic tune sung by the Brothers Four resounds over and over again and I tell you something true - lingers on with you - days later. You know by that thematic tune that you are not about to sit down to Heart of Darkness or The Lion in Winter - you are watching something that is meant to be fun. Five Weeks in a Balloon is just that. - Flawed and Fun.
    helpful•10
    0
    • BaronBl00d
    • Jul 10, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 22, 1962 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Fünf Wochen im Ballon
    • Filming locations
      • 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Irwin Allen Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,340,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

    Up — The Starlog Review
    May 29Starlog

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Peter Lorre, Red Buttons, Barbara Eden, Fabian, Cedric Hardwicke, Richard Haydn, BarBara Luna, and Chester the Chimp in Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.