The Twelve Tasks of Asterix (1976)

The Gauls have the chance to become the new masters of the Roman empire if they can solve twelve tasks set by Julius Cesar.

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:

roman empire | based on comic book | sequel | character name in title | potion | 

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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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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

During his introduction scene Asterix says "Hello" in various languages (English, Japanese, German etc.) while the flags of the countries are shown. As the flag of France appears Asterix makes a rooster-like sound. This is a reference to the fact that the rooster is a national symbol of France.

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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

Obelix: Oh, Asterix! He called me "Fatty!"

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Alternate Versions

In Denmark, the film was once aired as a mini-series, containing a number of cuts.

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Connections

Follows Astérix et Cléopâtre (1968)

User Reviews

let Astérix and Obélix do the easy work

This is the year 50 before JC. All the Gaul is occupied by the Romans. All the Gaul? No! A little village populated by some irreducibles Gallics resists again and always to the invader. This situation gets on Jules César's nerves who's starting to compare these Gallics as gods. To have proof of this, he sets them 12 works. Astérix and Obélix are chosen to take up the challenge... This animation film isn't an adaptation from one of Astérix' albums, it's an original screenplay that inspired from the Greek mythology with Hercule's works. The movie is a pleasant surprise because the animation is more careless than in Astérix' previous adaptations for the cinema, although it's a bit basic. Concerning these "works", of course they're fanciful and eccentric but they're irresistibe, varied, full of modern anachronisms (like the chips in the sixth work when Obélix must eat a pantagruelian meal). Besides, the anachronism is a common thing in Astérix' adventures.

The best moments of the movie are the pantagruelian meal, the sequences of the hypnosis and the crazy flat. At the end, in spite of tiresome sequences, peculiar to Astérix's adaptations, I think about the (useless) battle against the Romans at the beginning, the movie is a happy entertainment and the best animation film with Astérix.