Story of movie Olly Olly Oxen Free Film : Olly Olly Oxen Free (also known as The Great Balloon Adventure or The Great Balloon Race) is a 1978 American family adventure film directed by Richard A. Colla and starring Katharine Hepburn. The screenplay by Eugene Poinc is based on a story by Poinc, Colla, and Maria L. de Ossio. The title is derived from "Olly olly oxen free" a phrase used in children's games to indicate that those in hiding came out into the open safely and freely.
| Olly Olly Oxen Free | |
|---|---|
DVD Cover | |
| Directed by | Richard A. Colla |
| Produced by | Richard A. Colla |
| Written by | Eugene Poinc |
| Story by | Richard A. Colla Maria L. de Ossio |
| Starring | Katharine Hepburn Kevin McKenzie Dennis Dimster |
| Music by | Bob Alcivar |
| Cinematography | Gayne Rescher |
| Edited by | Lee Burch |
Production company | Rico Lion |
| Distributed by | Sanrio |
Release date |
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Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Screenplay
Eccentric Miss Pudd (Hepburn) is the owner of what she considers an antiques store but most would call a junkyard. She frequently refuses to part with her merchandise because of its sentimental or historical value. However, she does agree to lend some items to two boys, Alby (Kevin McKenzie) and Chris (Dennis Dimster), who befriend her.
The boys explain that they are repairing an antique hot air balloon that belonged to Alby's grandfather, an adventurous stunt man named The Great Sandusky. In honor and memory of Alby's grandfather, who died one year earlier and is sorely missed by Alby, they plan to take the balloon aloft to celebrate the grandfather's birthday.
The balloon is accidentally inflated and launched, with the two boys and their English sheepdog in the basket. Miss Pudd chases after them in her antique car and ends up riding the anchor dangling from the bottom of the basket. After she is pulled up, the balloon continues to drift and gets lost in a fog.
That night, they drift finally to Los Angeles, where a police helicopter demands that they land. The balloon lands on the stage of the Hollywood Bowl, at an outdoor concert where the orchestra is playing Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. Amidst fireworks, the audience thinks the balloon landing is part of the show and is enthralled as the ragamuffin crew disembarks and is sent home.
The low-budget movie was filmed on location in Calistoga and St. Helena, California in the summer of 1976.
After a limited release in 1978, it did not play in New York until five years later. William Mann called the film "nearly plotless" and stated that Hepburn's timing with the young co-stars was off.
