The Smurfs and the Magic Flute facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Smurfs and the Magic Flute |
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North American theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | José Dutillieu |
| Produced by | José Dutillieu |
| Screenplay by | Peyo |
| Story by | Peyo Yvan Delporte |
| Starring | See cast below |
| Music by |
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| Editing by | Nebiha Ben Milad Michèle Neny |
| Studio | Éditions Dupuis Belvision Studios |
| Distributed by | SEPP, Brussels |
| Release date(s) | 7 October 1976 (Belgium) 19 April 1979 (U.K.) 25 November 1983 (U.S.) |
| Running time | 74 minutes |
| Country | Belgium |
| Language | French |
| Money made | $19 million |
The Smurfs and the Magic Flute (French: La Flûte à six schtroumpfs) is a fun animated movie from Belgium. It was made in 1976 and features the famous Smurfs characters. The film was directed by Peyo, who created the Smurfs.
Even though the Smurfs are in the title, they don't show up until about halfway through the movie! The story mainly follows two human characters: Johan and Peewit. Johan is a young knight's helper, called a squire. Peewit is his funny sidekick, a jester. Peyo created Johan and Peewit in 1952. The Smurfs first appeared in one of their comic adventures in 1958.
This movie was not made by Hanna-Barbera, the studio that created The Smurfs TV show. Instead, it was made by Belvision Studios and Éditions Dupuis in Brussels, Belgium. The actors who voiced the characters in the TV show were not in this movie. Different voice actors were used for both the UK and US English versions.
The Smurfs and the Magic Flute was very successful in the United States. It earned over $19 million! Its success even led to the creation of Clubhouse Pictures, a company that made children's films.
Contents
The Story of the Magic Flute
The movie takes place in a castle during the Middle Ages. One day, a merchant tries to sell musical instruments to Peewit, the court jester. Peewit is not a good musician, so the King sends the merchant away. But the merchant leaves behind a special flute with only six holes.
The King throws the flute into his fireplace. Green smoke starts to come out! When the fire is put out, Peewit finds the flute unharmed. He cleans it and starts to play. Everyone in the castle begins to dance when he plays it!
The Flute is Stolen
That night, a man named Matthew McCreep learns about the magic flute. He had been looking for this flute for a long time. McCreep sneaks into the castle and steals the flute from Peewit. The King sends Peewit and the young knight Johan to catch McCreep.
McCreep uses the flute to rob people of their money. He plays the flute, and people can't help but dance, allowing him to take their gold. When Johan and Peewit try to stop him, McCreep uses the flute to make them dance too.
Journey to Smurfland
Johan and Peewit then go to the house of Homnibus, a wise wizard. The wizard uses a special spell to send them to Smurfland. This is where the magic flute was originally made.
When they arrive, a Smurf guides them to the Smurf village. Papa Smurf welcomes them. He tells them they will make a new magic flute to stop McCreep. The Smurfs go into the forest and cut down a huge tree. They need wood from the very center of the tree trunk. Only this special wood can be used to make a magical flute. After making the flute, the Smurfs celebrate with a party.
Just as Papa Smurf is about to give the new flute to Johan and Peewit, they are suddenly sent back to the wizard's house. Homnibus tries the spell again, but he gets a headache and passes out.
Stopping the Villains
Meanwhile, McCreep has stolen more than 7,000 gold pieces. He goes to the castle of his secret partner, Earl Flatbroke. McCreep tells Flatbroke his plan: he wants to hire an army on an island to attack the King's castle. Two Smurfs were secretly listening to this plan!
Back at the wizard's house, the Smurfs meet up with Johan and Peewit. They give them the new magic flute. Then, they all head to the port of Terminac. This is where McCreep is sailing from to reach the island. But they arrive too late.
Papa Smurf tells Johan and Peewit about Flatbroke's castle. Johan comes up with a clever plan. Flatbroke receives a letter from McCreep (but Johan actually wrote it!). The letter tells Flatbroke to come to the island. Flatbroke goes to Terminac to board a ship. Johan and Peewit are also on board, disguised. Papa Smurf and three other Smurfs are with them.
They sail to the island, and Johan and Peewit follow Flatbroke. Suddenly, Peewit comes face to face with McCreep! They both start playing their magic flutes at each other. They both get very tired from playing so much. Finally, Peewit plays one last note that knocks McCreep out.
The Flutes Return
McCreep and Flatbroke are brought back to the castle. All the stolen money is recovered. Peewit now has two magic flutes. Johan tells him that the flutes are dangerous and should be returned to the Smurfs. But Peewit secretly carves a fake flute to give to them instead.
At the castle, Johan and Peewit give the flutes back to the Smurfs. After the Smurfs leave, Peewit starts playing the flute he kept. To his horror, it has no effect on the people! He realizes it's the fake flute he made, which makes him very frustrated.
Voice Cast
Here are the actors who lent their voices to the characters in the film:
| Character | Original (French) | UK English | US English |
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| Senechal/Chancellor/Lord Miller | Georges Atlas | Unknown | Unknown |
| Merchant | Jacques Balutin | ||
| Visitor | Jacques Ciron | ||
| Johan/John | William Coryn | Grant Gottschall | |
| Homnibus | Henri Crémieux | Ted Lehman | |
| Smurf #2 | Roger Crouzet | Michael Sorich | |
| Mortaille/Mumford/Earl Flatbroke | Jacques Dynam | Ron Gans | |
| Papa Smurf | Michel Elias | Bill Capizzi (1st version) Michael Sorich (2nd version) |
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| Dame Barde/Lady Gripe/Lady Prattle | Ginette Garcin | Unknown | |
| Fisherman | Henri Labussière | Robert Axelrod | |
| Torchesac/Matthew Oily-Creep/Matthew "Oily" McCreep | Albert Médina | Mike Reynolds | |
| Pirlouit/William/Peewit | Michel Modo | Stuart Lock | Cam Clarke |
| The King | Georges Pradez | Unknown | Michael Sorich |
| Guard | Serge Nadaud | Unknown | |
| Deaf Person | Robert Axelrod | ||
| Oliver | Unknown | ||
| Silvermonger | |||
| Smurf #1 | Jacques Ruisseau | Robert Axelrod | |
| Brainy Smurf | Unknown | Bill Capizzi |
Additional Voices
- Original: Jacques Balutin, Angelo Bardi, Jacques Marin
- UK: Ed Devereaux, Bill Owen, Harry Dickman, Richard Pescud, Vernon Morris, Stuart Lock, Yael O'Dwyer, Anna MacLeod, Richard Ashley, Paul Felber, Michael Fields, Kalman Glass
- US: Patty Foley, Bill Capizzi, Star X. Phifer, Dudley Knight, John Rust, Richard Miller, David Page, Durga McBroom, Michael Sorich
Inspiration for the Film
The movie is based on a comic story called La Flûte à six trous (which means "The Flute with Six Holes"). This story first appeared in the Belgian comic magazine Spirou in 1958 and 1959. Later, when the story was published as a book, its name was changed to La Flûte à six Schtroumpfs ("The Flute with Six Smurfs"). This became the French title of the movie.
In 2008, a new comic story was published called Les Schtroumpfeurs de flûte ("The Flute Smurfers"). This story was a prequel, meaning it happened before the original. It explained how the Smurfs made the magic flute and how it ended up with the human merchant. This prequel was released to celebrate 50 years since the Smurfs first appeared in comics.
