La Ballade des Dalton (1978)
Directed by René Goscinny, Henri Gruel

Film Review

After Tintin and Astérix, the most enduring comic creation in French culture is most probably Lucky Luke, whose Wild West cartoon adventures continue to delight thousands of children and adults.  Created by René Goscinny (of Astérix fame) and Morris, Lucky Luke is a tongue-in-cheek caricature of the taciturn Western hero, the seemingly inoffensive lawman who uses brains, not brawn, to defeat his opponents.  Alan Ladd's Shane may have been his role model. The character made his film début in Daisy Town in 1971, directed by his creator, René Goscinny.  This was followed by La Ballade des Dalton, which was released shortly after Goscinny's death in 1977.  Lucky Luke has since reappeared in film form on a few occasions - most recently as a live-action version played by Jean Dujardin in Lucky Luke (2009) - but La Ballade des Dalton remains unquestionably his best screen outing to date.

With its inventive script, colourful characters and relentless sequence of madcap visual jokes, La Ballade des Dalton is the kind of animated film that appeals as much to adults as to children.  The film's greatest strength is the quality of its characterisation - from the decidedly nasty Daltons to the loveable (but unimaginably thick) dog Ran Tan Plan, not to mention Lucky Luke and a cavalcade of lesser creations, each character is distinctive and memorable.  Another asset is Claude Bolling's music, which is used to greatest effect in the brilliant ballad of the film's title and an amazing sequence which pays homage to (or cheekily parodies) the Hollywood musical.

La Ballade des Dalton is certainly a classic of its genre, lovingly created, witty, intelligent, and a wonderful piece of escapist fun - like so much of Goscinny's work.  Fans of Astérix, the classic American western and cartoons in general are unlikely to be disappointed by this magnificent example of French animation.

Film Synopsis

The Wild West has its fair share of desperados, but few are as desperate as the Dalton brothers, the sad bunch of despicable outlaws who are now just a few days into their two and half thousand year long prison sentence.  They have the incentive they need to escape when they learn that their rich uncle Henry has just been hanged and has left them a fortune in his will.  But there is a catch.  In order to collect the money, the Daltons must kill each member of the jury and the magistrate, Judge Groovy, who convicted him.  And to ensure that the terms of the will are met in full, each of the murders must be witnessed by someone who is beyond reproach, namely Lucky Luke.

Without delay, the Daltons break out of their prison cell and go after their sworn enemy, intending to kill him if he refuses to play ball.  It is Joe Dalton who has the idea of bribing the seemingly incorruptible cowboy, offering him a large share of the inheritance if he will agree to witness the killings.  Lucky Luke takes the Daltons by surprise by agreeing to their plan, but in fact he has his own little scheme in mind.  By exercising his ingenuity, the intrepid cowboy manages to save each of the nine intended victims, whilst letting the criminals think they are getting away with murder...