Red Balloon, The

The Boy (Pascal Lamorisse) sets off for school. The junction of Rue Piat and Rue des Envierges in Belleville, Paris.

The view is a little different now. PW

The boy sees a red balloon caught at the top of a lamp post. Passage Julien-Lacroix off Rue des Couronnes which is also seen in 'Rififi'.

Now part of Parc du Belleville after slum clearance in the 1960s. PW

The boy untangles the balloon. Passage Julien-Lacroix.

A different angle brings more of the arch over the present steps into view. PW

The boy takes the balloon with him as he heads to school. Rue de Ménilmontant in the 20th arrondissement of Paris.

The boy waits with the balloon for the bus to school on Rue de Ménilmontant at the junction with Rue des Pyrénées.

Taking this comparison, Graham Thomas tells us that the bus stop is still in situ but the sign is now of modern design standing against the wall.

The conductor doesn't allow the balloon on the bus. A Renault TN6C2 bus operating route 96 along Rue de Ménilmontant.

A modern bus arrived almost obscuring the surviving buildings. Graham Thomas explains that "There have been some changes but the clear pointer is the change in colour of the brickwork where a chimney once ran and the arrangement of the windows in the white fronted building. Bonbons Tour Eiffel has since been replaced by a modern office block."

The boy is going to be late and runs to school along Rue de Ménilmontant.

The wall has been rebuilt as Graham Thomas's view shows, however, to the right is what might have been the position of the original door from the screen capture.

Getting closer to school. Christian Gehret identifies this as Rue des Allouettes looking towards the corner with Rue du Plateau in the 19th arrondissement. The bistrot to the centre still exists while the surrounding area has been modernised.

The boy arrives at school. Furore Magazine describes the location as 17 Rue du Pré-Saint-Gervais. The area has been redeveloped.

Its raining when the boy leaves school. Rue de la Tombe Issoire, Paris 14, looking towards Rue d'Alésia.

The boy asks passers by to shelter the balloon from the rain. The corner of Rue de la Tombe Issoire and Rue d’Alésia.

Outside 71bis Rue de la Tombe Issoire in the 14th arrondissement identified by Christian Gehret.

Christian Gehret identifies this as looking south-west from outside 20 Rue Censier in the 5th arrondissement.

Manuel Gurtner advises that the Boy and the balloon two are crossing the River Seine by the pedestrian bridge Pont des Arts. Upstream on the left can be seen the left bank of the Île de la Cité and part of the famous Pont Neuf, the oldest standing bridge across the river. In the left distance the tower of the Conciergerie (Palais de la Cité) at Quai des Orfèvres can be made out.

Discovering that there's a 96 bus stop only a few hundred metres from the bridge, Graham Thomas took this shot from Pont des Arts where little has changed.

Mounted police pass by. Christian Gehret found 23 Quai de Conti, Paris 75006 in front of Bibliothèque Mazarine with the Institut de France as the background.

Graham Thomas advises that this is just a step away from the Pont des Arts. The only difference today is that the road layout is slightly more complex due to the addition of a cycle lane.

The boy and the balloon watch as a train passes under a bridge. Christian Gehret advises that the bridge links the 18th and 19th arrondissements and takes Rue Riquet over the railway line running north from Gare de l'Est.

Dashing home in the rain. Rob Kay identifies this as just outside number 68 Rue de Belleville, the main road running along the boundary of the 19th and 20th arrondissements.

At the corner of Rue des Envierges, to the left, and Rue du Transvaal.

Despite the destruction of the run down area, some buildings survive. PW

Running home along Rue du Transvaal.

The ornamental urns on top of the gateposts have weathered the intervening years. PW

The boys Grandmother (René Marion) shoos the balloon out of the apartment on Rue du Transvaal, Paris 20.

I wonder who lives in that apartment now. PW

The postman walks along a 'passerelle' delivering letters. Off Rue Piat, Belleville, Paris.

A glazier plies his trade through the streets. Rue Piat.

Different buildings now line the street. PW

facing 14 Rue de l'Encheval in the 19th arrondissement recognised by Christian Gehret.

Boarding the bus to school. Rue de Ménilmontant.

The bus descends Rue de Ménilmontant at the junction with Rue Boyer and Rue l'Ermitage. Route 96 still follows much of the same route.

The balloon follows the bus. Rue de Ménilmontant.

Rue de Ménilmontant.

Rue de Ménilmontant.

Rue Oberkampf near the junction with Rue Amelot.

The junction of Rue Oberkampf, Rue de Ménilmontant, Boulevard de Belleville and Boulevard de Ménilmontant.

The same junction captured by Graham Thomas.

After getting off the bus the boy calls the balloon. The corner of Rue de Rennes and Rue du Vieux Colombier in the 6th arrondissement identified by Christian Gehret who adds that the bistro in the background is nowadays called Café du Metro.

The children wait to enter school. Rue du Pré-Saint-Gervais.

A teacher (Michel Pezin) calls the class in. Furore Magazine gives the location as 26 Rue Henri Chevreau, Paris.

The balloon follows the boy's headmaster to a meeting. Outside 82 Boulevard de Montparnasse in the 14th arrondissement located by Christian Gehret. The building has been replaced by a modern one but Ateliers Beaux-Arts Montparnasse at number 80 next door survives.

Traffic signals change as the Boy waits to cross the road. Christian explains that this is the junction of Rue du Four and Rue Bonaparte with Debrueres in the left background now a pharmacy.

The two pass through a market selling bric-à-brac. Christian Gehret discovered Boulevard Richard Lenoir where Rue Saint-Sébastien crosses in the 11th arrondissement with, what is today, the Attitude Cafe in the background.

A gang of boys lie in wait to grab the balloon. The top of Passage Julien-Lacroix from Rue Vilin in Belleville, Paris 75020. This location was also seen in 'Rififi' from the bottom of the steps.

A greener view today. PW

The gang chase the Boy and the red balloon. At the base of the stairs descending from Rue Piat to Rue Vilin.

The steps of Passage Julien-Lacroix now pass through Parc du Belleville. PW

Rushing home with the gang still in pursuit. Rue Piat.

Taken from a similar position. PW

Arriving home safely. Rue du Transvaal, almost opposite Rue Botha.

The number of parked cars has increased somewhat. PW

The boy and his grandmother head to church. Notre Dame de la Croix with the junction of Rue Julien Lacroix with Rue Étienne Dolet and Rue du Liban visible in the background.

Do the trees and plants make this area look better? PW

The steps of Notre Dame de la Croix de Ménilmontant.

The frontage of the church has been cleaned up. PW

Looking across waste ground towards Notre Dame de la Croix. The church also features in 'Rififi'.

Graham Thomas found that there are a number of views that might have been the waste ground at the top of rue Piat from where the spire can be seen.

The Boy visits the local bakers shop. Rue Piat at the top of Rue Vilin.

The property didn't survive the 60s. PW

The balloon is missing when the Boy returns to the street. Rue Piat in the 20th arrondissement.

A 'Wallace fountain' remains near the site of the shop. PW

A gang of boys capture the balloon and walk along Passage Ronce heading towards Rue des Couronnes.

This area has changed beyond recognition with Passage Ronce consigned to the history books. PW

The balloon is rescued. Christian Gehret advises that this location is now Square Alexandre Luquet, lying between Rue du Transvaal, Rue Botha and Passage Piat in Belleville.

A chase through the alleyways of Belleville before the red balloon is finally recaptured and burst. Christian tells us that this is the former Passage Notre Dame de la Croix. No longer existing, the alley once ran between Rue d'Eupatoria and Rue de la Mare.

After the red balloon is destroyed all the balloons in Paris begin to take off to find the boy. From Rue Henri Cheverau looking along Rue de la Mare. The dead end street also features in 'Rififi'.

The view of Notre Dame de la Croix is now blocked. PW

The lawns of Montmartre below Basilique du Sacré-Cœur in the 18th arrondissement of Paris. The location also appears in 'The Rebel' and '‘Paris Blues’.

Not a balloon of any colour in sight. PW

More balloons take flight.

Along the Seine . . . . Beneath Pont Marie on Voie Georges Pompidou in the 4th arrondissement located by Christian Gehret.

Graham Thomas captured today's view from beneath Pont Marie.

. . . . beneath bridges . . . . Once again, Voie Georges Pompidou, a few steps from Pont Marie identified by Christian Gehret.

No balloons in Graham Thomas's comparison.

. . . . and through the city streets.

A row of balloons follow each other along the street.

Balloons climb the steps of Montmartre. Rue Chappe where the steps cross Rue Gabrielle. 'Paris Blues' also features the same location.

The same location. PW

Looking south west from Rue Piat. The buildings on the right stand on Rue Vilin and at the bottom of the image is the top of Passage Julien-Lacroix.

Looking across Parc du Belleville. PW

The boy is carried high above Ménilmontant where the Eiffel Tower can be made out in the background mist. Rue Vilin bottom right and Passage Julien-Lacroix bottom left.

There has been a lot of tree growth over the years but Graham Thomas found that it's still possible to get one view from the top of rue Piat with the Eiffel Tower in the distance.