The Yellow Balloon

The Yellow Balloon
Movie · Drama · Thriller

Frankie Palmer is a normal, lovable boy who one day catches sight of a yellow balloon in a shop window. Procuring the money from his impoverished father, Frankie sets on his way to buy the balloon, but drops the sixpence, which rolls down the drain. When he sees his friend Ronnie has purchased the balloon, he playfully snatches it away and a wild chase follows up and down the rickety skeleton of a blitzed building. Their chase ends in a terrible accident, witnessed by the unscrupulous Len Turner, who takes advantage by blackmailing young Frankie, convincing him he faces criminal charges. Too terrified to confide in his parents, Frankie becomes a pawn for Turner, coerced into a robbery that ends in murder.

1953 · 1h 20m
Starring Andrew Ray, Kathleen Ryan, Kenneth More
Director J. Lee-Thompson

Trailers

  • The Yellow Balloon
    Thriller

Related

  • The Weak and the Wicked
  • Time is My Enemy
  • The League of Gentlemen
  • The Flying Scot
  • The Passionate Stranger
  • Dead of Night
  • Pink String and Sealing Wax
  • Cast a Dark Shadow
  • Treasure Hunt

Cast & Crew

  • A‌R
    Andrew Ray
    Frankie
  • Kathleen Ryan
    Emily Palmer
  • Kenneth More
    Ted
  • William Sylvester
    Len
  • Bernard Lee
    Constable Chapman
  • S‌F
    Stephen Fenemore
    Ron
  • Marjorie Rhodes
    Mrs. Stokes
  • P‌J
    Peter Jones
    Spiv
  • J. Lee-Thompson
    Director
  • V‌S
    Victor Skutezky
    Producer
  • J. Lee-Thompson
    Writer

About

The Yellow Balloon

Drama

Frankie Palmer is a normal, lovable boy who one day catches sight of a yellow balloon in a shop window. Procuring the money from his impoverished father, Frankie sets on his way to buy the balloon, but drops the sixpence, which rolls down the drain. When he sees his friend Ronnie has purchased the balloon, he playfully snatches it away and a wild chase follows up and down the rickety skeleton of a blitzed building. Their chase ends in a terrible accident, witnessed by the unscrupulous Len Turner, who takes advantage by blackmailing young Frankie, convincing him he faces criminal charges. Too terrified to confide in his parents, Frankie becomes a pawn for Turner, coerced into a robbery that ends in murder.

Information

Studio
STUDIOCANAL Ltd
Released
1953
Run Time
1 hr 20 min
Rated
PG Contains mild threat and violence
Region of Origin
United Kingdom
© 1953 STUDIOCANAL Films Ltd. All rights reserved. Distributed by STUDIOCANAL LIMITED.

Languages

Original Audio
English (United Kingdom), English
Audio

English (United Kingdom) (AAC)

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
  • Österreich
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Nederland
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Россия
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • España
  • Sverige
  • Schweiz
  • Türkiye (English)
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina (Español)
  • Bahamas
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia (Español)
  • Brasil
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Honduras (Español)
  • México
  • Nicaragua (Español)
  • Panamá
  • Paraguay (Español)
  • Perú
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)

Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.

  • Internet Service Terms
  • Apple TV & Privacy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Support
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
  • Österreich
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Nederland
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Россия
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • España
  • Sverige
  • Schweiz
  • Türkiye (English)
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina (Español)
  • Bahamas
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia (Español)
  • Brasil
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Honduras (Español)
  • México
  • Nicaragua (Español)
  • Panamá
  • Paraguay (Español)
  • Perú
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)