Original title: Astérix le Gaulois
Adaptated from the album Astérix le Gaulois
Scenario : Willy Lateste, Jos Marissen, László Molnár d’après l’œuvre de René Goscinny et Albert Uderzo
Produced by: PRODUCTIONS DARGAUD FILMS
Directed by: BELVISION – BRUXELLES
Running time: 65min
Video distribution: CITEL VIDEO / PFC VIDEO
First appearance of the Adventures of Asterix the Gaul on the big screen, and the first success in the series. Originally planned for broadcast on television, the potential of this first cartoon film convinced the Siritzky brothers (cinema owners) to distribute it in cinemas, just like a Disney production! And indeed the film was hugely successful, in France and abroad. It was a real hit with German audiences in particular.
Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny then reckoned that they would be able to realise their childhood dream – making cartoons. The background story to this is quite amazing: the film was actually made without their knowing it! They were invited by Georges Dargaud to watch a film at the Belvision studios in Belgium, and were staggered to see a cartoon using their story and their graphics.
A second cartoon, “Asterix and the Golden Sickle”, had also been made at the same time. To prevent a chill wind blowing up between the publisher/producer and his much venerated authors, the second project was dumped and René and Albert were able to make THEIR first cartoon film: “Asterix and Cleopatra”…
What the druids have to say about the film
Available in VHS and DVD
Included on the DVD: 7 character profiles, 2 author profiles, 1 52-minute documentary on René Goscinny and 17 film posters + sound track and subtitles in French, English, Spanish, German and Dutch.