La guerre du feu (1981)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Jean-Jacques Annaud

Writers:

Gérard Brach (screenplay)
J.H. Rosny Sr. (novel)

Release Date:

12 February 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

A Science Fantasy Adventure.

Plot:

This story takes place in prehistoric time when three prehistoric tribesmen search for a new fire source.

Plot Keywords:

Prehistoric | Fire | Tribe | Mammoth | Trio

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 10 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Everett McGill	...	Naoh
Ron Perlman	...	Amoukar
Nicholas Kadi	...	Gaw (as Nameer El-Kadi)
Rae Dawn Chong	...	Ika
Gary Schwartz	...	The Ulam Tribe - Rouka
Naseer El-Kadi	...	The Ulam Tribe - Nam
Franck-Olivier Bonnet	...	The Ulam Tribe - Aghoo
Jean-Michel Kindt	...	The Ulam Tribe - Lakar
Kurt Schiegl	...	The Ulam Tribe - Faum
Brian Gill	...	The Ulam Tribe - Modoc
Terry Fitt	...	The Ulam Tribe - Hourk
Bibi Caspari	...	The Ulam Tribe - Gammla
Peter Elliott	...	The Ulam Tribe - Mikr
Michelle Leduc	...	The Ulam Tribe - Matr
Robert Lavoie	...	The Ulam Tribe - Tsor
Matt Birman	...	The Ulam Tribe - Morah
Christian Benard	...	The Ulam Tribe - Umbre
Joy Boushel	...	The Ulam Tribe (as Joy Boushell)
Mary Lou Foy	...	The Ulam Tribe
Robert Gonder	...	The Ulam Tribe
Sylvie Guilbault	...	The Ulam Tribe
Steve Ramanuskas	...	The Ulam Tribe
Lydia Chaban	...	The Ulam Tribe
Dena Francis	...	The Ulam Tribe
Hélène Grégoire	...	The Ulam Tribe
Lloyd McKinnon	...	The Ulam Tribe
Georgette Rondeau	...	The Ulam Tribe
Rod Bennett	...	The Wagabou Tribe
Jacques Demers	...	The Wagabou Tribe
Michel Drouet	...	The Wagabou Tribe
Michel Francoeur	...	The Wagabou Tribe
Charles Gosselin	...	The Wagabou Tribe
Bernard Kendall	...	The Wagabou Tribe
Benoît Lévesque	...	The Wagabou Tribe
Joshua Melnick	...	The Wagabou Tribe
Jean-Claude Meunier	...	The Wagabou Tribe
Alex Quaglia	...	The Wagabou Tribe
The Great Antonio	...	The Kzamm Tribe
Jacques Caron	...	The Kzamm Tribe
Jean-Pierre Gagne	...	The Kzamm Tribe
Hercule Gaston Heon	...	The Kzamm Tribe
George Buza	...	The Kzamm Tribe
Danny Lynch	...	The Kzamm Tribe
Butch Lynch	...	The Kzamm Tribe
Luke McMasters	...	The Kzamm Tribe
Adrian Street	...	The Kzamm Tribe
Mohamed Siad Cokei	...	The Ivaka Tribe - Ota Otarok
Tarlok Sing Seva	...	The Ivaka Tribe - Tavawa
Lolamal Kapisisi	...	The Ivaka Tribe - Firemaker
Hassannali Damji	...	The Ivaka Tribe - Old Man in Tree
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Alary	...	The Kzamm Tribe (uncredited)
Stéphane Drouet	...	Man on Fire (uncredited)

Directed by
Jean-Jacques Annaud

Writing credits
Gérard Brach		(screenplay)
J.H. Rosny Sr.		(novel) (as J.H. Rosny Ainé)

Produced by
Véra Belmont	....	producer
Jacques Dorfmann	....	producer
Michael Gruskoff	....	executive producer
Denis Héroux	....	producer
John Kemeny	....	producer
Claude Nedjar	....	associate producer
Garth Thomas	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Philippe Sarde

Cinematography by
Claude Agostini

Film Editing by
Yves Langlois

Casting by
Ellen Chenoweth
Karen Hazzard

Production Design by
Guy J. Comtois		(as Guy Comtois)
Brian Morris

Art Direction by
Clinton Cavers

Costume Design by
John Hay
Penny Rose

Makeup Department
Stuart Artingstall	....	hair stylist
Jocelyne Bellemare	....	special makeup effects artist
Suzanne Benoit	....	makeup artist
Michèle Burke	....	makeup artist
John Caglione Jr.	....	special makeup effects artist
Sarah Monzani	....	makeup artist
Christopher Tucker	....	creative makeup consultant

Production Management
Raymond Becket	....	unit manager
Peter Bray	....	unit manager
Christopher Knowles	....	assistant unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Bracknell	....	assistant director
Dominique Cheminal	....	first assistant director

Sound Department
David Evans	....	sound effects editor
Austin Grimaldi	....	sound re-recording mixer
Joe Grimaldi	....	sound re-recording mixer
Claude Hazanavicius	....	sound
Kenneth Heeley-Ray	....	supervising sound editor
Kevin Ward	....	sound effects editor
Don White	....	foley recording mixer
Don White	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Mark Molin	....	special effects technician
Neil Trifunovich	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Joe Campassi	....	animal stunts
Karin Dew	....	animal stunts
Bonnie Gruen	....	stunts
Shawn Gruskoff	....	animal stunts
Tim Huleatt	....	stunts (as Tim Hulcatt)
Dwayne McLean	....	stunts
Brian McMillan	....	animal stunts
Brent Meyer	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Christophe Bonnière	....	camera loader
Paul Gravel	....	focus puller
Ernst Haas	....	still photographer
Larry Lynn	....	second assistant camera
Takashi Seida	....	still photographer
Al Smith	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Janty Yates	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Thomas Metzger	....	color timer

Music Department
William Flageollet	....	music mixer
Peter Knight	....	conductor
Michel Sanvoisin	....	musician: flute
Syrinx	....	musician: pan flute

Transportation Department
Joe Sanchez	....	driver

Other crew
Anthony Burgess	....	creator: special languages
Jean Christopher	....	script assistant
Norma Dell'Agnese	....	dubbing: "Ika"
Quinn Donoghue	....	director of publicity
Brian McMillan	....	head animal trainer
Michael D. Moore	....	director: animal segments (as Michael Moore)
Desmond Morris	....	body language and gestures creator
Richard Alary	....	stand-in (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Belstar Productions
• Ciné Trail
• Famous Players
• International Cinemedia Center
• Royal Bank
• Stéphan Films

Distributors

• AMLF (France)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Gativideo (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• KinoVista (2007) (Russia) (TV)
• Lume Filmes (2009) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Suevia Films (2006) (Spain) (DVD)
• TF1 Vidéo (2005) (France) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1982) (USA)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Abbey Road Studios  music recording studio
• Gentle Jungle  animals provided by
• Les Percussions de Strasbourg  music performers
• London Philharmonic Orchestra  orchestra
• London Symphony Orchestra, The (LSO)  orchestra
• RCA Records  soundtrack
• The Ambrosian Singers  chorus

Also Known As:

Quest for Fire (International: English title) (Philippines: English title)
The War of Fire (International: English title) (literal title)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

Canada | France | USA

Language:

None

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (35 mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Spain:13 | UK:15 (cut) | Iceland:16 | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Denmark:15 | New Zealand:R13 (re-rating) | Australia:MA (re-rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | Argentina:18 | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Badlands, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Belstar Productions

Trivia:

The title of this movie in French is "La Guerre du feu" and that is translated to "The War of fire", the German title is "Am anfang war das feuer" which means "At the beginning was the fire" and of course the English title is "Quest for fire". A trivial side note to this trivia, the fact that man living in such close proximity as Africa and on to England, France, and Germany yet all speak different languages reinforces the story line of the movie giving examples that early man was tribal and formed closed groups that depended on each other for survival.

Goofs:

Continuity: In one shot there is no smoke coming from Amoukar's lantern, even though the previous and following shots show plenty of smoke billowing from the lantern.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman (1998) (TV)

"...and Prometheus said, 'Let me give you fire,' and humanity saw that it was good..."

A peaceful tribe of prehistoric humans, unable to create fire, loose their only source of flame due to another tribe's attack. Three of the tribe leave their home to search for a new source of fire to bring back to their people before the cold climate can take its toll. Their journey brings them not only into contact with other tribes of prehistoric humans at different stages of evolution but also advances their own humanity, as well as teaching them to be "prometheuses" in their own right.

An absolutely fascinating film. Those who are partial to history and anthropology will especially enjoy this. An honest, un-PC look at the origins of the species and the development of humanity through loss, tragedy, hardship, hostile elements and the beginnings of laughter, morality, community service, leadership, friendship and of course, love. A wondrous feat of body language performances as there is no truly discernible language/dialogue spoken. This is a well done, well made film all around.

For those into scenery gazing the beauty of the locations (Canada, Iceland, Kenya, Scotland) alone are worth a rental fee.

Ron Perlman is one of the three male leads/would be prometheuses. Watch the body language! Someone did research! A difficult and impressive (first movie) performance.

Definitely worth a buy (the DVD has two commentaries, one with the director Jean-Jacques Annaud, one with producer Michael Gruskoff, Rae Dawn Chong and Ron Perlman).