Asterix and the Great War - the 1989 animated film

April 12 2022

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Asterix and the great war (Asterix and the blow of the menhir) is a 1989 French animated film directed by Philippe Grimon and produced by Yannick Piel. It is the first film based on the Asterix comic series to be produced outside of France, being a co-production between France and Germany, but it differs from the other graphic novel adaptations in the series, combining the elements of the Asterix plot and the great war with Asterix and the soothsayer. In the film, Panoramix (Getafix) is accidentally made insane and amnesic by Obelix, forcing Asterix to try to cure him as his village is duped by a fraudulent soothsayer who works for the Romans.

History

Obelix, Idefix and Panoramix - Asterix and the great war

The Romans capture the druid Panoramix (Getafix), as part of their plan to deprive a wayward Gaul village of the magic potion that gives them superhuman strength. When the village attempts a rescue, Obelix accidentally hits Panoramix (Getafix) with a menhir which causes the druid to amnesia and madness. As the village grapples with this problem, a scammer arrives pretending to be a fortune teller named Prolix and begins to deceive some of the gullible villagers. This leads one to believe a series of prophecies that promise food and drink.

Asterix and forgetful Panoramix - Asterix and the great war

Knowing that the Romans will soon realize that the village is in trouble without the magic potion, Asterix and Abraracourcix desperately try to get Panoramix to prepare some. His concoctions quickly prove problematic and cause centurion Caius Fapallidaugustus to send a decurion as a spy in the village. Despite being camouflaged, the decurion is captured and used as a guinea pig for some of Panoramix's less dangerous creations. However, one of these makes it lighter than air by making it fly away towards the camp. Fapallidaugustus sends a patrol to investigate, and it captures Prolix. Although Roman laws state that such individuals should be arrested, Fapallidaugustus is convinced of Prolix's abilities and uses him to drive out the villagers.

Asterix and Abraracourcix - Asterix and the great war

Back in the village, Prolix predicts that the local air will become nauseating and poisonous. All leave for a nearby island except Asterix, Obelix, Panoramix and Idefix. Shortly after the Romans moved into the village, Panoramix brews a very noxious potion whose vapors envelop the village, restoring her memories and sanity and driving away the Romans, who believe Prolix's prediction was true. Panoramix quickly prepares the magic potion and convinces the villagers to test the fortune-teller's skills by having them attack the Roman camp. In the aftermath of the attack, Prolix is hit by a menhir after his abilities are discovered to be false (exhibiting the same symptoms as Panoramix), while Fapallidaugustus is degraded due to his failure and the village returns to normal.

Asterix and Obelix in the woods - Asterix and the great war

Technical data

Original title Asterix and the blow of the menhir
Original language French
Country of Production France, West Germany
Year 1989
Duration 79 min
Relationship 1,85:1
Gender animation, adventure, comedy, fantastic
Regia Philippe Grimond
Subject René Goscinny (comic)
Film script Yannik Voight, Adolf Kabatek
Production house Gaumont, Extrafilm Production
Distribution in Italian Eagle Pictures
Editor Jean goudier
Music Michael Colombier
Storyboard Philippe Grimond, Keith Ingham
Entertainers --Keith Ingham
Wallpapers Michael Guerin

Original voice actors
Roger CarelAsterix
Pierre Tornade: Obelix
Julien Guiomar: Prolix
Marie-Anne Chazel: Beniamine
Henri Labussière: Panoramamix
Roger Lumont: Caius Fapallidaugustus
Edgar Givry: Assurancetourix
Henri Poirier: Abraracourcix
Jean-Claude Robbe: Caius Blocus
Gérard Croce: decurion
Patrick Préjean: option
Paul Bisciglia: Matusalemix

Italian voice actors
Mino Caprio: Asterix
Renato Cortesi: Obelix, Caius Fapallidaugustus
Mario Milita: Prolix
Graziella Polesinanti: Beniamina
Marco Bresciani: Panoramamix
Marco Cortesi: Assurancetourix
Vittorio Amandola: decurion
Luca Dal Fabbro: Matusalemix

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asterix_and_the_Big_Fight_(film)