Tintin et les oranges bleues (1964)
Directed by Philippe Condroyer

Film Review

This is the second 1960s live action big screen adaptation of Tintin's adventures, not to be confused with the better known (and more widely distributed) animated films. As in its predecessor, Tintin et le mystère de la toison d'or, Jean-Pierre Talbot plays the hero, instantly recognisable as the gutsy boy reporter Tintin, but Captain Haddock is now played by Jean Bouise, who is a pretty poor replacement for Georges Wilson. On balance, this is the weaker of the two Tintin films - the plot is more juvenile, the characters more wooden, and it lacks the fun, charm and sophistication of Hergé's original stories. That said, there are a few memorable comic moments (particularly from Milou), and fans of the original Tintin stories will find something to delight them in this film.

Film Synopsis

Professor Tournesol's personal campaign against world hunger results in him being sent a most peculiar package from Valencia - a fluorescent blue orange that may, believe it or not, solve the world's food scarcity problems in one fell swoop.  This mysterious fruit was sent by Professor Zalamea, a famous Spanish biologist who believes he has found a way to massively increase the production of citrus fruits.  After the orange is stolen, Tournesol feels compelled to head off to Valencia, accompanied by his friends Tintin, Captain Haddock and their faithful dog Milou.

Alas, Tintin and his resourceful crew arrive too late.  When they reach Zalamea's house, the professor has already disappeared.  It seems that not everyone is happy with the scientist's remarkable breakthrough.  Realising the effect that it will have on the world economy, weakening the power of the large food producers and causing the cost of foodstuffs to plummet, a consortium of interested parties has had to act to prevent Zalamea's miraculous blue oranges from becoming known about.  Tournesol is naturally their next target, and when he goes missing Tintin and his friends soon find themselves caught up in their most fantastic adventure yet...