Tintin and the Mystery of the Golden Fleece

This live-action Tintin adventure from 1961, which sees the boy reporter and Captain Haddock on the trail of lost gold in the Aegean, gets so many details right that it will provoke shivers of recognition in those who know and love the books.

Much of this is down to the actors' spooky resemblance to their comic book counterparts: dressed in the iconic plus-fours and sky-blue jumper, Tintin is played by Jean-Pierre Talbot, an ex-fitness instructor who brings martial arts skills and an unexpected physical presence to the role, while Captain Haddock keeps his bushy beard, seafaring clothes and anger management issues. Is this only for hardcore Tintinophiles? Probably.

Yet the film has great period charm (the images of Istanbul are particularly beguiling), striking production design and costumes, and the same mix of globe-trotting adventure, exotic characters, and slapstick that have made the books so enduring. It certainly makes an intriguing template for the Spielberg's upcoming adaptation. [Keir Roper-Caldbeck]