First watched : 1972
Herge's Adventures of Tintin had many uses. It was a source of names for a number of dodgy eighties pop acts for one thing. It was also a potential answer to that perennial quandary of naming a famous Belgian.
The series was based on the famous comic books of Georges Remi writing under the pen-name Herge from the late twenties to his death in 1983. They concern a young investigative reporter who pursued dangerous stories leading to numerous threats to his personal safety. He is aided by colourful friends such as Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus and his dog Snowy and his zeal and resourcefulness often shows up the efforts of the police represented by the incompetent Thompson Twins.
This series made in the late fifties 1957 took seven of the books, made major changes to the plots and broke them down into five minute episodes which always ended on a cliffhanger with Tintin in a perilous situation.
I loved it but there was a problem. Even the shortest adaptation , The Secret of the Unicorn, ran for 10 episodes i.e a fortnight and at 10.50 am it was right in the danger zone for being taken to the shops, clinic, Gran's , dentist or wherever. So I don't think I ever managed to watch a complete story from start to finish which rather spoiled the experience.
As long-running comic series tend to do Tintin has attracted his fair share of obssessives who don't like this adaptation mainly because it messed around with the original story lines too much. Nevertheless, as Messrs Bailey and Duffy would attest it is still fondly remembered in Britain if nowhere else.
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