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

Caricatures in the movie include French director, writer, actor, animator and presenter Pierre Tchernia, who also narrates this movie in the French version as a Roman consul in "Place that send you mad", and French actress Brigitte Bardot as the goddess Venus.

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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 Astérix et la surprise de César (1985)

User Reviews

The 13th task: Find a fan who didn't like this one.

The best of the several movie adventures of Asterix, Obelix, Vitalstatistix and Co., our heroes are given a series of increasingly difficult tasks by Caesar, with the future of the village at stake - ranging from crossing a ravine by an invisible bridge ("Which you do not see over there") through avoiding the lures of the sirens, combating a champion javelin thrower and getting a permit for the next task (something that will strike a chord in anyone who's ever had to face red tape) to facing a celestial challenge by a god who asks them to... actually, that last one is so funny you have to see it for yourself.

There is a book out, but it's the adaptation of the movie, making "The Twelve Tasks Of Asterix" the only one to date actually written for the screen first. Perhaps the makers of the later animated movies and the live-action ones could take the hint? (Or is adapting them properly beyond 'em?) Sheer pleasure throughout, with moments that still make me laugh years after seeing it and some surprisingly strong satire, all the movies should have been like this. Right, let's tie up the bard and bring on the boar...

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