Sunday 29 December 2013

1977, Deaths: Patricia Haines

On February 25 1977, Patricia Haines died from lung cancer at the age of 45. She was survived by her husband actor Bernard Kay whom she married in 1963.

Patricia Haines was was born on 3 February 1932 in Sheffield, Yorkshire. She is best known for her television work including “Dixon of Dock Green”, “Steptoe and Son”, “The Avengers” (she appeared in three episodes: “The Nutshell”, “The Master Minds” and “Who's Who?”), “Danger Man”, “Public Eye”, “The Baron”, “Softly, Softly”, “Adam Adamant Lives!”, “The Champions”, “The Saint”, “Department S”, “Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)”, “Up Pompeii!”, “Emmerdale Farm”, “Special Branch”, “The Protectors” and “Within These Walls”.
Patricia Haines with Steve Forrest, Nosher Powell and
Artro Morris in "The Baron: Epitaph for a Hero".
She was the first wife of actor Michael Caine. They were married from 1955 to 1962 and had a daughter, Dominique.
Patricia Haines with Diana Rigg in "The Avengers: Who's Who?"

Thursday 26 December 2013

1976, Television: “Star Maidens”

The British-German SF series “Star Maidens” (German Title: “Die Mädchen aus dem Weltraum”) premieres on ITV on 1 September 1976. The television series was made for ITV and ARD by Portman Productions in association with Jost Graf von Hardenberg & Co., Scottish Television Enterprises and Werbung im Rundfunk GmbH (WiR). The thirteen episodes were written by Eric Paice and Jost von Hardenberg. The theme music was composed by Berry Lipman.

Synopsis
The planet Medusa drifts after a collision with a comet into Earth's solar system and is detected by some Earth scientists. The frozen surface of Medusa is inhabitable and the people are now living in a technical advanced underground city. Medusa is ruled by the women, who consider men as mentally inferior. The men are divided into two categories: the "adequately intelligent" who work as domestics, and the remainder who perform labor under the supervision of female guards. When two male domestics escape to Earth they are pursued by the Medusan security forces. The Medusans fail to re-capture them so they bring two human hostages to Medusa...
Judy Geeson
Lisa Harrow (right)
Christiane Krüger
Christiane Krüger (middle) and Lisa Harrow (right)
Main Cast
  • Lisa Harrow as Liz
  • Christian Quadflieg as Rudi
  • Christiane Krüger as Octavia
  • Judy Geeson as Fulvia
  • Gareth Thomas as Shem
  • Pierre Brice as Adam
  • Derek Farr as Evans
  • Dawn Addams as Clara
  • Annette Lynton as Clara's Assistant
  • Ursula Mellin as Andrea
  • Ann Maj-Brit as Octavia's Assistant
  • Ronald Hines as Stanley

Opening Credits


Tuesday 17 December 2013

1975, Film: “Le vieux fusil”

The French/German film “Le vieux fusil” (English: “The Old Gun”) is released in France on 22 August 1975. The film, directed by Robert Enrico, music by François de Roubaix, and starring Philippe Noiret, Romy Schneider and Jean Bouise, is based on the Massacre of Oradour-sur-Glane in 1944. On 10 June 1944, 642 inhabitants including 205 children of Oradour-sur-Glane were murdered by a German battalion.
The film won the 1976 César Award for Best Film, Best Actor and Best Music, and was nominated for best director, supporting actor, writing, cinematography, editing and sound.

Synopsis
1944, Julien Dandieu (Philippe Noiret) is a surgeon in the local hospital of Montauban. When the German army enters Montauban, Dandieu asks his friend François (Jean Bouise) to drive his wife Clara (Romy Schneider) and his daughter Florence (Catherine Delaporte) to a village in the country where he owns a castle. Later that week Dandieu sets off to meet his family, but meanwhile the Germans have occupied the village. He discovers that all the local people have been killed and that his daughter was shot and his wife burned to death by a German flame-thrower. Dandieu decides to kill as many Germans as possible to avenge his wife and daughter...
Philippe Noiret, Caroline Bonhomme & Romy Schneider
Philippe Noiret
Romy Schneider
Main Cast
  • Philippe Noiret as Julien Dandieu
  • Romy Schneider as Clara Dandieu
  • Jean Bouise as François
  • Joachim Hansen as SS officer
  • Robert Hoffmann as Lieutenant
  • Caroline Bonhomme as Florence Dandieu (8 years)
  • Catherine Delaporte as Florence Dandieu (13 years)
  • Karl Michael Vogler as Doctor Müller
  • Madeleine Ozeray as Julien's Mother

Romy Schneider & Philippe Noiret
Philippe Noiret
Romy Schneider
Awards
  • César Meilleur film (Best Film) for Robert Enrico (César Awards, France 1976)
  • César Meilleur acteur (Best Actor) for Philippe Noiret (César Awards, France 1976)
  • César Meilleure musique (Best Music) for François de Roubaix (César Awards, France 1976)
  • David Migliore Attore Straniero (Best Foreign Actor) for Philippe Noiret (David di Donatello Awards, Italy 1976)

Trailer