FLIGHT OF THE LOST BALLOON

Marshall Thompson and Mala Powers

FLIGHT OF THE LOST BALLOON (1961). Written and directed by Nathan Juran. 

When Dr. Joseph Faraday (Marshall Thompson) learns that the fiance, Sir Hubert (Douglas Kennedy), of Ellen Burton (Mala Powers of The Unknown Terror) -- daughter of explorer Adam Burton (Robert W. Gillette) -- has disappeared in Africa, he suggests a novel and quicker way of traversing the continent to find him: by balloon. But when it comes time to go, a mysterious man and guide known only as the Hindu (James Lanphier) arranges it so that Ellen goes along with him and Faraday instead of Adam Burton. Along the way the intrepid trio encounter a drunk cannibal queen and her cohorts, a flock of screeching attacking birds, bad-tempered gorillas, and a hostile 7 or so foot native named Golem (Felippe Birriel). On an island in Lake Victoria, the Hindu reveals his true colors. It all has to do with the ancient treasure of Cleopatra. 

James Lanphier

I suspect that Flight of the Lost Balloon was rushed out to compete with the following year's Five Weeks in a Balloon, as anything associated with Jules Verne -- who wrote Five Weeks -- was considered fair game after the success of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Journey to the Center of the Earth. The movie is perhaps too low-budget to take advantage of its plot and scenery, with most of the trip by balloon -- which is never "lost" -- occurring via a mediocre blue screen process. 

Douglas Kennedy with Mala Powers

The actors are another story, as they handle the material with aplomb, especially James Lanphier as the very sinister Hindu, who is perfectly willing to torture Ellen to get her fiance to reveal the location of the treasure. Douglas Kennedy is also quite effective as the greedy Sir Hubert, who would rather spend years in captivity than give up the fabulous treasure he has been searching for. There's a good musical score by Hal Borne, but there isn't enough of it to drum up some excitement in key moments. Despite a lot of activity the film still threatens to become a bit tedious at times. Nathan Juran also directed First Men in the Moon and many others. NOTE: According to the Internet Movie Data Base this was an uncredited and very loose adaptation of Five Weeks in a Balloon, but 20th Century-Fox, who were working on their own version, forced them to remove all references to Jules Verne. 

Verdict: Rocket ships and subs are more fun than balloons. **1/4. 

THE BIG CHASE

THE BIG CHASE (1954). Director: Arthur Hilton. 

Peter Grayson (Glenn Langan of The Amazing Colossal Man) is a new police officer and his wife, Doris (Adele Jergens of Blonde Dynamite) is expecting their first baby and fears complications to her pregnancy. Pete's buddy, Lt. Ned Taggert (Douglas Kennedy of Rockabilly Baby), hopes that his pal will try to become a detective but he has other plans. Meanwhile Brad Bellows (Jim Davis) is planning a payroll robbery before he even gets out of prison. When the day comes for the attack on an armored car, Bellows is accompanied by his wife (uncredited), Kip (Lon Chaney Jr.), and others. Just as Doris goes on the operating table, Pete and his partner are off in pursuit of Bellows and his confederates. This results in a chase sequence that is certainly not as exciting as the film's poster would indicate (someone jumps out of a copter at one point, but no one falls to their death). 

The Big Chase looks cobbled together from TV outtakes, and the two storylines -- Peter and his wife, and the robbery -- never quite jell. The acting is fine, however, and the pace is swift enough so that the running time -- less than an hour! -- doesn't seem padded. Lon Chaney hasn't a line of dialogue and his scenes -- along with half of this movie -- were lifted from an earlier film, a color 3D short entitled Bandit Island. Joe Flynn, the exasperated commander from McHale's Navy, plays a reporter to whom Kennedy tells the story. Langan and Jergens were married for many years in real life. 

Verdict: Not much to recommend in this soggy suspenser. *1/2. 

ROCKABILLY BABY

Virginia Field and Gary Vinson

ROCKABILLY BABY (1957). Director: William F. Claxton. 

Eleanor Carter (Virginia Field) arrives in the small town of Springdale with her two teenagers in tow: Cathy (Judy Busch) and Jimmy (Gary Vinson). It isn't long before the two youths are making friends in high school, including Linda (Marlene Willis), flirtatious Jackie (Sandy Wirth), and her boyfriend, Chuck (Charles Willcox), who lets Jimmy take his spot on the water polo team. Meanwhile Eleanor has managed to charm the new principal, Tom Griffth (Douglas Kennedy) and the wealthy town matriarch, Mrs. Wellington (Ellen Corby), who turns out not to be so dour after she has a martini or two with Eleanor. But the nasty Eunice Johnson (Irene Ryan, who played Granny on The Beverly Hillbillies) discovers that Eleanor has a secret -- she used to be known as stripper "Dixie West" -- what will the town say to that? 

Ellen Corby and Irene Ryan

Rockabilly Baby is an amiable picture with effective players and some pleasant if unmemorable tunes. An obese cellist scratches the life out of her cello; Marlene Willis sings a bouncy number and manages not to go flat too often; bitchy Jackie deliberately spills her drink on Linda then makes a play for Jimmy, who rejects her; and her boyfriend Chuck tells her off. Not exactly the stuff of great drama. Douglas Kennedy, who normally played villainous roles, is fine as the principal who is attracted to Eleanor. The real Les Brown and his Band of Renown shows up at the end to deliver some Dixieland-type jazz. William F. Claxton later directed the giant bunny monster movie Night of the Lepus.   

Verdict: Go, Granny, go! **1/2.