"Les aventures de Tintin" Les 7 boules de cristal: Première partie (????)

User Rating:

8.5/10   

Director:

Stéphane Bernasconi

Writers:

Amélie Aubert (scenario director)
Hergé (graphic novel "Les sept boules de cristal")

TV Series:

"Les aventures de Tintin" (1991)

Original Air Date:

???? (Season 3, Episode 3)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Family | Mystery

Plot:

Strange things begin happening to a group of archaeologists who have just returned from a exhibition to Peru. |

Plot Keywords:

Sea Captain | Tintin | Dog | Reporter | Travel

Cast

Thierry Wermuth	...	Tintin (voice)
Christian Pellissier	...	Le capitaine Haddock (voice) (as Christian Pelissier)
Henri Labussière	...	Le professeur Tournesol (voice)
Yves Barsacq	...	Dupont (voice)
Jean-Pierre Moulin	...	Dupond (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Colin O'Meara	...	Tintin (voice: English version)
Susan Roman	...	Snowy (voice)

Series Cast

These people are regular cast members. Were they in this episode?

Vernon Chapman	...	Nestor (voice)
Dan Hennessey	...	Detective Thomson (voice)
Maureen Forrester	...	Signora Bianca Castafiore (voice)
Harvey Atkin	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Peter Meech	...	Radio Announcer (voice)

Also Known As:

"Les aventures de Tintin": The Seven Crystal Balls: Part 1 (#3.3) (USA)

The Seven Crystal Balls (Part 1 of 2)

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

After a group of seven scientists discovered the tomb of the Inca King, Rascar Capac in the Andes. When they returned home. One by one, they are falling into a coma. Right near their bodies, happens to be broken crystal ball. After trying to stop this happening to the scientists and there is only one left uninfected, Professor Tarragon. Who actually has Rascar Capac's mummy at his house. Since Calculus is a good friend. He, Tintin and Haddock decide to go and stay there to protect Tarragon from the curse. Though one night the mummy disappears, when a fireball enters from the chimney and causes it to disappear. Later that night Tintin, Haddock and Calculus have an identical dream involving the mummy and for their concern of Tarragon. They find him in a comatose state with shattered crystal particles by his bed. Although he suddenly awakes screaming in a fit of terror to everyone's confusion, but they encounter an intruder who eventually escapes.

"The Seven Crystal Balls" is writer and illustrator Herge's thirteenth comic strip album of "The Adventures of Tintin" and the third episode (part 1 of 2) of Season 3. For this adventure Tintin goes off the beaten track into the superstitious ancient believes of the Incas. This is a nice change to the formula and is actually one of my favourites, if not it and the story would go onto continue in "Prisoners of the Sun". The whole mystical air drummed paves way for incredibly tight suspense, memorably dark flourishes and a gripping mystery piece that favourably works towards the bigger picture. The thoughtful dialogues can actually raise some important questions. During few sequences a feverishly jungle tone makes its way into the musical score and provides a touch of atmosphere. What makes this one enjoyable too, is that many of Tintin's cheery friends or acquaintances pop up in some humorously light-hearted touches. These are the opera singer Bianca Castafiore, General Alcazar who's out of power and is now a knife thrower, insurance salesman Jolyon Wagg as part of an audience and of course what's an episode without the Thompsons. Plus now Professor Calculus is living with Haddock at his estate, which ensures plenty more funny exchanges between the two. What begins as quite an odd outing, makes way for a well arranged and colourful detective yarn.