La ballade des Dalton (1978)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Directors:

René Goscinny
Henri Gruel

Writers:

René Goscinny (comic)
Morris (comic)

Release Date:

10 March 1978 (West Germany)

Genre:

Animation | Comedy | Western

Plot Keywords:

Based On Comic | Lucky Luke | Character Name In Title

Cast

Roger Carel	...	Min Li Foo, le blanchisseur chinois / Mathias Bones, le joyeux croque-mort (voice)
Georges Atlas	...	(voice)
Daniel Ceccaldi	...	Lucky Lucke (voice)
Jacques Balutin	...	William Dalton (voice)
Xavier Depraz	...	(voice)
Jacques Deschamps	...	Bud Bugman, le conducteur de locomotive (voice)
Gisèle Grimm	...	(voice)
Michel Elias	...	Plume de serpent, le sorcier indien (voice)
Bernard Haller	...	Ran Tan Plan, le chien le plus bête et le plus symphatique de l'Ouest (voice)
Jacques Fabbri	...	Thadeus Collins, le directeur de prison (voice)
Gérard Hernandez	...	Jack Dalton (voice)
Henri Labussière	...	L'imprimeur (voice)
Roger Lumont	...	Pancho (voice)
Jacques Legras	...	Augustus Betting, le notaire (voice)
Jacques Morel	...	Sam Game, le prêcheur et tricheur repenti (voice)

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Finland:S | Sweden:7 | Iceland:L

Company:

Dargaud Films

Movie Connections:

Featured in René Goscinny: Profession humoriste (1998) (TV)

Soundtrack:

La ballade des Dalton

Mediocre but somewhat entertaining

7 years after Lucky Luke dealt with the Dalton Brothers in the western frontier near Daisy Town, Luke and the Dalton's paths cross again, in The Ballad of the Dalton Gang.' A banjo player narrates the tail of how this time, Luke takes the Dalton's to prison. Though once inside, the Daltons are met by Augustus Betting, who is representing the estate of their late relative Uncle Henry Dalton. Throughout his exploits, Henry Dalton amassed quite a fortune, and named his nephews as his heirs, but on condition that they eliminate the judge and jury that sentenced him. Thoug, to make sure that they do their job, Henry Dalton wants Lucky Luke to supervise the boys (since Luke was the most honorable and trustworthy man he knew). The Dalton's manage to break out of prison, and run into Luke. Though they threaten to either shoot him, or give him a share of Henry's legacy. Luke seems to be taking this well, and offers to help rubbing out those the boys are after.

Once again, this film falls onto some humor that is probably too different for American audience to embrace. There's a dog named Rin Tin Can who just seems to be a clueless mutt who the law enforcement people keep praising, but doesn't really do much good for the better part of the film. Also, Luke's horse Jolly Jumper is given a speaking voice as well, though he's only understood by the other animals.