This autumn the BFI is to release two rarely seen and previously unreleased live-action films starring Hergé's intrepid boy reporter Tintin. Remastered to High Definition (but being released on standard def only), Tintin and the Mystery of the Golden Fleece (1961) and Tintin and the Blue Oranges (1964) will both be released on DVD in October.

Each release contains an illustrated booklet featuring the first ever English translation of extracts from Tintin actor Jean-Pierre Talbot's autobiography J'étais Tintin au cinema; fact-filled essays from Tintinologists Simon Doyle and Christian Owens and contributions by Vic Pratt, Curator at the BFI National Archive, and John Fardell, Viz comic artist and children's author. Both titles are packaged featuring original artwork adapted from original film posters.

The Adventures of Tintin comic strip stories are amongst the most popular and successful comic books ever written, published in over 50 languages and selling millions of copies. Tintin's enduring appeal will receive a boost next year with Steven Spielberg's big-screen release of The Secret of the Unicorn, with a screenplay by Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish.

Tintin and the Mystery of the Golden Fleece (Jean-Jacques Vierne, 1961)

A surprise message from Istanbul is about to ruin Captain Haddock's day. Named as sole beneficiary in the will of his late comrade Paparanic, Haddock and his best friend Tintin, journey to Turkey to claim a strangely disappointing bounty – but is all as it seems? Aided by their friends, the eccentric Professor Calculus and faithful Snowy the dog, Tintin and Haddock set out to solve the mystery of Paparanic's bequest – a rusty old ship called the Golden Fleece. Along the way they confront slippery lawyers, ex-pirates, dangerous gangsters and the bumbling Thom(p)son detectives in an action-packed journey that takes them from Turkey to Greece.

One of the very few adaptations to meet with Tintin creator Hergé's approval, Tintin and the Mystery of the Golden Fleece is a spirited live-action take on his iconic comic creation and features all his best-loved characters. As well as uncanny Tintin-alike Jean-Pierre Talbot's martial arts skills and the larger-than-life Georges Wilson as Captain Haddock, the film features the talents of other established character actors including Marcel Bozzuffi (The French Connection) and Charles Vanel, famed for having the longest career of any film actor (Henri-Georges Clouzot's Les Diaboliques, The Wages of Fear and La Verité and Hitchcock's To Catch a Thief).

Tintin and the Blue Oranges (Philippe Condroyer, 1964)

Professor Calculus' dreams of ending world hunger are brought one step closer by the creation of a desert-proof orange, deep blue in colour. But it seems he's not the only one interested in this magnificent scientific discovery. When the strange blue orange – invented by Spanish Professor Zalamea – is stolen Tintin, Captain Haddock, Calculus and Snowy the dog make for Spain to investigate. In a riotous adventure Tintin and friends must overcome violent kidnappers, deadly traps and unscrupulous rich adventurers to rescue the orange and themselves. With help from a gang of enterprising kids and big- hearted opera menace Bianca Castifiore can Tintin save the day?

Jean-Pierre Talbot, who became a life-long friend of Tintin creator Hergé, plays the boy-reporter for the second time in this spirited live-action adventure and is well supported by Jean Bouise's (Le grand bleu) comic performance as the irrepressible Captain Haddock.

Tintin and the Mystery of the Golden Fleece and Tintin and the Blue Oranges will be released individually on UK DVD by the BFI 18th October 2010 at the RRP of £17.99 each. Both titles will include an illustrated booklet with newly commissioned essays and notes by actor Jean-Pierre Talbot