When do balloons stop being so important? Anyone with kids can attest to the hypnotic sway a colored sphere of helium holds over them. The moment a child can pass a balloon and not cry out for one is a major rite of passage. So why is this Web video of balloons snuck into famous movie scenes so fascinating to those of us older than, say, 9?
“Helium and Celluloid,” a six-minute clip reel created by Jerry Rees, begins with the familiar cinematic moment when Harold Lloyd dangles from the hands of a clock — but this time a balloon, digitally and seamlessly inserted into the mix, distracts Lloyd as it bounces off his flailing feet. And the balloon bounces on — from King Kong to Mary Poppins and 18 chapters of film history in all. Most sublime moment: Gene Kelly singing and dancing in the rain, with balloon. Enjoy it. Adults won’t have this much fun with balloons until the upcoming conventions.
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