"Les aventures de Tintin" Tintin et les Picaros: Première partie (????)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Stéphane Bernasconi

Writers:

Amélie Aubert (adaptation)
Hergé (graphic novel "Tintin et les Picaros")

TV Series:

"Les aventures de Tintin" (1991)

Original Air Date:

???? (Season 2, Episode 8)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Family | Mystery

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Sea Captain | Fictional City | Fictitious Country | Imaginary Country | Tintin

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)

Tintin and the Picaros (Part 1)

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Bianca Castafiore, her entourage and Thompson and Thomson who are with her to look after her prized jewels arrive in San Theodoros. Only to be arrested for supposedly trying to overthrow the military dictatorship led by General Tapioca, which a bit of evidence of was discovered in their luggage. On these papers, the names of Tintin, Haddock and Calculus are also caught up in the accusations. After hearing the news of this, Tintin and friends travel to San Theodoros to clear this up, after being invited there by Tapioca. Tintin gets the feeling something is not quite right about it, and that's true as an old cunning enemy in Colonel Sponsz has planned out some sort of revenge against them. The only way for Tintin, Calculus and Haddock to escape is with the aid of their friend Alcazar and his band of rebel fighters, the Picaros.

Herge's "Tintin and the Picaros" is the twenty-third (and the final) comic strip album of "The Adventures of Tintin" and the eighth episode (part 1 of 2) of Season 2. Out of all of the episodes this was the only one which hadn't seen before, but I've read the graphic novel. How this one is shaped, doesn't feel like your normal Tintin venture, but it turns out to be a dark conspiracy tale filled with vengeance, guerrilla warfare, terrorist activity and a political slant. All of this takes on a more mature and thoughtful tag with everything basically being kept under wrapped. I didn't find the humour to be too intrusive, but it took a back step, although it did leave a mark somewhat in the second part of the story. Reappearing is the larger than life character Alcazar and treacherous bad guy Colonel Sponsz (from the"The Calculus Affair"). The bright setting again is San Theodoros (which was the background for "The Broken Ear"). Pacing wise it's slow, but there are enough unexpected turns, shady developments and a taut strangle hold that doesn't entirely rely on action. This story driven excursion, feeds off its material with bite and interest.