Darn! That's probably my favorite part of the book. I haven't seen the movie in 20 years. After reading the book to the boys I've told them I'll try to find the movie. That's easier said than done.

I never did find out whether the ball of paper was filmed that way on purpose, intending to foreshadow the balloon, which then didn't work, or whether it just looked that way to someone who'd read the book.