Asterix NZ

Asterix the Gaul
Background
  • First Released: 1967
  • Original Title: Astérix le Gaulois
  • Directed by: Ray Goossens
  • Written by: Rene Goscinny, Willy Lateste, Jos Marissen and László Molnár
  • Produced by: Productions Darguard Films
  • Music by: Gérard Calvi
  • Running Time: 68 min
  • Adapted from the book: Asterix the Gaul

This first Asterix movie was originally made for television, but it was decided to release it in cinemas as the French answer to a Disney Film. This showed good foresight as the film was successful in France and other European countries.

Goscinny and Uderzo had no involvement in the film and weren't even aware of its existence until AFTER it had been made. Their publisher Georges Dargaud invited them to a film viewing, and the authors were very surprised to see an animated version of their popular comic. It had always been a dream of the authors to make their own cartoon movies, and this movie encouraged them to make their own starting with Asterix and Cleopatra. A second movie Asterix and the Golden Sickle was also made with Asterix the Gaul but was never released to keep the authors happy. You can learn more about this lost film here.

The "english", or rather "american" dub was created prior to the series publication in the UK in 1969, and as such the names used for the characters are very different. Vitalstatistix becomes Tonofbrix. For this reason the movie was never released in Britain, but BBC does have liscence to the tv rights.

This movie ironically did play a large part in the initial marketing of the Asterix series for english readers. According to Antony Kamm: "BBC television, faced apparently with the stark choice of using a clip from a film of Asterix the Gaul, which had been made by the French publisher and dubbed into Americanese with different names to those in the English edition of the book, or not featuring Asterix at all, did neither, and came up trumps. Five nights in a row the Tonight programme closed with a five-minute serial from the film, the new commentary being voice-over by Eric Thompson (of the Magic Roundabout) from the Brockhampton translation." (From Asterix in Britain: The untold story)
More Images from the Asterix the Gaul movie can be found here.
Plot
The Romans, desperate to uncover the secret of the Gauls superhuman strength, finally think they have cracked it.

One Roman centurion who learns about that secret magic potion through a spy is especially eager to get hold of the recipe. He wants to use it to make himself invincible and remove all obstacles between himself and Caesar’s throne. But Getafix, the shrewd village druid, cooks him up a very different potion. Our hero, Asterix, delivers it: an ancient, extremely powerful tonic that makes hair grow and grow….
Cast

The English voice actors are uncredited.
Review

The "Asterix the Gaul" Movie follows the "Asterix the Gaul" book to the letter. It follows the exact same plot with no deviations and the images are lifted straight from the book. "Asterix the Gaul" the book was written with a looming deadline and the authors were still trying to develop the Asterix formula. As such, I regard it as the worst Asterix book, although it does have some good moments.

I would hope that the movie would be able to improve on the book, but it doesn't. In many ways it is a step back.

Some of the names in the film are different to the English translations, and loose much of their subtlety. Getafix reverts back to his original French name Panoramix, while Vitalstatistix becomes Tonofbrix and Cacofonix, Stopthemusix. I am not sure when this movie was dubbed and released in english, but with the first english Asterix book released in 1969, this may have been released prior to those translations and without a premade audience.

This also contains a very idiotic sequence. Phonus Bolonus (Crismus Bonus in the book) walks into Asterix and Panoramix's tent and threatens to torture Asterix the next day. He leaves and the two Gauls laugh, then a legionary enters saying Phonus Bolonus wants to see them... after just seeing them ten seconds ago! What?? For me, this was the only funny thing about the film, I just don't think the makers intended it to be.

Talking about humour, this movie lacks any comic timing. Gags that are funny in the book (such as the hair sequence) are no longer funny on screen.

No attempts of accents have been made by the voice actors and all sound very english. The voices don't exactly sound like you think the characters would talk but they don't grate and are more than bearable. However, it could do without some of the Romans speaking in high cartoonish voices.

The Animation, although sometimes repetitive (Animations of Asterix and Obelix walking a repeated many times with different backgrounds), is surprisingly good. The backgrounds are quite beautiful, though nobody moves in the village scenes. The characters are quite similar to their depictions in the early books so the animators can be commended for that.

What I liked most about the movie (which isn't saying much) was the score by Gerard Calvi. It fits perfectly with the scenes from the film. Being so different to the scores you hear today it takes a while to get used to, but it really works.

In summary, the movie shows no originally and if you ask me, you are better off reading the book then wasting your time with this. Only bother with this if you are a very enthusiastic fan. ;)

If you have seen the movie and would like to add your thoughts, drop me a line.