Asterix the Gaul (film)

Asterix the Gaul
French theatrical release poster
Astérix le Gaulois
Directed byRay Goossens
Screenplay byWilly Lateste
Jos Marissen
László Molnár
Based onAsterix the Gaul
by René Goscinny
Albert Uderzo
Produced byGeorges Dargaud
StarringRoger Carel
Jacques Morel
Pierre Tornade
Lucien Raimbourg
Narrated byBernard Lavalette
CinematographyFrancois Léonard
Georges Lapeyronnie
Étienne Schürmann
Edited byFrancois Ceppi
Jacques Marchel
Laszlo Molnar
Music byGérard Calvi
Production
companies
Distributed byAthos Films
Release dates
  • December 20, 1967 (1967-12-20) (France)
  • December 23, 1967 (1967-12-23) (Belgium)
  • December 22, 1968 (1968-12-22) (United Kingdom)
Running time
68 minutes
CountriesFrance
Belgium
LanguageFrench

Asterix the Gaul (French: Astérix le Gaulois) is a 1967 animated film, the first in a franchise, based on the comic book of the same name, which was the first book in the highly popular comic series Asterix by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. The film closely follows the book's plot.

The film was originally planned to be aired on French television, but instead it was released as a theatrical feature film. It was produced by Dargaud, publisher of the Asterix comics, without the involvement of Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny. Goscinny and Uderzo were not satisfied with the film, but reluctantly agreed to its release. However, they managed to stop the production of two planned sequels, Asterix and the Golden Sickle and Asterix and the Big Fight (likewise made without their involvement). Afterwards, they ensured that they would be consulted for all subsequent cartoon adaptations, starting with Asterix and Cleopatra. The film was animated by Belvision and Halas and Batchelor.