The Twelve Tasks of Asterix (1976)

A group of indomitable Gauls are challenged by Roman Emperor Julius Caesar to accomplish twelve impossible tasks.

Directors:

René Goscinny, Henri Gruel

Writers:

René Goscinny (story), Albert Uderzo (story)

Stars:

Roger Carel, Jacques Morel, Pierre Tornade

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Roger Carel	...	Astérix / Les 2 sénateurs (voice)
Jacques Morel	...	Obélix (voice)
Pierre Tornade	...	Abraracourcix (voice)
Henri Labussière	...	Le réceptionniste (voice)
Jean Martinelli	...	César (voice)
Pascal Mazzotti	...	(voice)
Lawrence Riesner	...	(voice)
Claude Dasset	...	(voice)
Roger Lumont	...	Cylindrique le Germain, prof de karaté allemand (voice)
Gérard Hernandez	...	Le vénérable du sommet (voice)
Henri Virlojeux	...	Panoramix / Iris (voice)
Nicole Vervil	...	(voice)
Jacques Hilling	...	(voice)
Henri Poirier	...	(voice)
Mary Mongourdin	...	(voice)

Storyline

When Julius Cesar fears, that he will probably never be able to defeat the gaulic village of Asterix and his friends, he has the idea of offering the Gauls a deal: if they are able to solve twelve tasks that he selected, he will hand over the Roman empire to them. If not, they have to submit.

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Plot Keywords:

alternate history | rome | asterix character | task | roman empire | 

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Taglines:

Twelve mighty tasks to prove the Gauls are gods or mortals!

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Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Unlike the other Asterix movies this one isn't based upon any of the Asterix books but is a completely original story written by Asterix creators Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny.

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Goofs

When Julius Caesar lists the Twelve Labours of Hercules, several of them are wrong, namely Hercules killing Geryones and Diomedes and Hercules freeing Theseus from the underworld. Hercules killed Geryones while having to steal his cows; when Hercules had to steal Diomedes's men-eating horses he fed Diomedes to the horses; Hercules went into the underworld to capture the multi-headed dog Cerberus, during which he also rescued the captive Theseus.

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Quotes

Julius Caesar: Brutus, stop playing with that knife. You'll end up hurting someone.

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Crazy Credits

The Studio Idefix logo is in the form of the MGM logo, but it features Dogmatix in the logo and bears a Roman laurel wreath; the Latin inscription reads "Delirant Est Romani" ("These Romans are crazy.")

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Alternate Versions

As a bonus feature for the German DVD release, each Asterix film was given a new dubbing in a German dialect. This film was dubbed in Bavarian.

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Connections

Followed by Asterix and the Big Fight (1989)

User Reviews

Best Asterix adventure with outrageous ending

I'm mostly a rather introvert person. When a comedy makes me smile it has succeeded, when it makes me chuckle it is a rousing success. The climax of this film made me fall from my cinema seat laughing.

This film is not based on any of the Asterix comic books as most of the Asterix films. Asterix faces 12 tasks, one more daunting than the other (I can't remember why, it was over 20 years ago), building up to the last one, the most difficult of the lot. Do not, under any circumstances, including hurricanes and invading Mongolic hordes, leave the cinema before that scene!

Details

Country:

France UK

Language:

French English

Release Date:

17 November 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Twelve Tasks of Asterix

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dargaud Films, Les Productions René Goscinny, Studios Idefix

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1