Tuesday 6 January 2015

1964, Cars: Plymouth Barracuda

The Plymouth Barracuda is introduced on April 1, 1964 by the Plymouth division of the Chrysler Corporation. While the Ford Mustang introduced the term “pony car” the Barracuda preceded the Mustang with 16 days.

The two-door fastback coupe, based on the Plymouth Valiant, had a distinctive wraparound back glass. It used the same engines as the Valiant, including two versions of the Chrysler six-cylinder engine. The standard engine was a 2.8 L with 75 kW and the optional 3.7 L raised the power to 108 kW. The highest power option was the Chrysler new 4.5 L V8 engine with 130 kW.
Plymouth Barracuda 1963 Prototype with Valiant nameplate
Ford Mustang and Plymouth Barracuda (1964)
Plymouth Barracuda 1964
Plymouth Barracuda 1964
Plymouth Barracuda 1965
Plymouth Barracuda 1965
Plymouth Barracuda 1966
Plymouth Barracuda 1966
In 1965 the Plymouth Barracuda Commando was introduced with a new V8 engine (175 kW). Also in 1965, the Formula 'S' package was introduced. It included the Commando V8 engine, suspension upgrades, larger wheels and tires, special emblems, disc brakes and factory-installed air conditioning. In 1966 new taillights, new front sheet metal, and a new dashboard were introduced. Production of the Mk I Barracuda ended in 1967.
Successor: Plymouth Barracuda Mk II (1967)

Plymouth Barracuda 1966 Advert

Plymouth Barracuda Brochure (1964, USA)

Sunday 4 January 2015

1963, Film: “Mélodie en sous-sol”

The French film "Mélodie en sous-sol" (English: "Any Number Can Win") is released 19 March 1963 in France and on 8 October 1963 in the US. The film directed by Henri Verneuil is based on the John Trinian alias Zekial Marko novel "The Big Grab" from 1960. Main stars are Jean Gabin as Monsieur Charles, a mature delinquent recently released from prison and Alain Delon as Francis Verlot, a former cellmate of Monsieur Charles.

From the start the main role of Monsieur Charles was intended to be played by Jean Gabin, but the second role, that of Francis Verlot was to be played by Jean-Louis Trintignant.

Synopsis
Charles (Jean Gabin) comes out of prison after serving five years for attempted robbery. He rejects Ginette (Viviane Romance), his wife, intention for a quiet life of bourgeois respectability. He enlists a former cellmate, Francis Verlot (Alain Delon), to rob the vault of a Cannes casino...
Alain Delon as Francis Verlot
Jean Gabin as Monsieur Charles and Maurice Biraud as Louis Naudin
Jean Gabin as Monsieur Charles and Alain Delon as Francis Verlot
Alain Delon as Francis Verlot and Carla Marlier as Brigitte
Main Cast
  • Jean Gabin as Monsieur Charles
  • Alain Delon as Francis Verlot
  • Claude Cerval as commissaire de Police
  • Maurice Biraud as Louis Naudin
  • Viviane Romance as Ginette
  • Carla Marlier as Brigitte
  • Dora Doll as Countess Doublianoff
  • Henri Virlojeux as Mario
  • José Luis de Vilallonga as Monsieur Grimp
  • Rita Cadillac as Liliane
  • Anne-Marie Coffinet as Marcelle
  • Jean Carmet as barman
  • Jimmy Davis as Sam
  • Dominique Davray as Léone
Alain Delon as Francis Verlot and Carla Marlier as Brigitte
Jean Gabin as Monsieur Charles and Viviane Romance as Ginette
Awards
  • Edgar Allan Poe Awards: Edgar for Best Foreign Film (USA, 1964)
  • National Board of Review: NBR for Top Foreign Film (USA, 1963)

"Mélodie en sous-sol" Opening Credits

Friday 2 January 2015

1962, Belgian Comics: “Suske en Wiske”

In 1962 three new "Suske en Wiske" (UK: "Bob & Bobette" or "Spike and Suzy", US: "Willy and Wanda") albums are published: "De wilde weldoener" (translation: "The Savage Benefactor"), "Het hondenparadijs" (translation: "The Dog Paradise") and "De kaartendans" (English title: "Dancing cards"). The series “Suske en Wiske” was created by Willy Vandersteen in 1945.

No 44: "De wilde weldoener"
- two-coloured
- never published in English
- story and drawings by Willy Vandersteen
- published in French ("Bob et Bobette") as "La Tombe Hindoue"
- published in Swedish ("Fin och Fiffi") as "Den sällsamma ringen"

Cover "De wilde weldoener" (1962)
The story was pre-published in the newspapers "De Standaard" and "Het Nieuwsblad" from 19 June 1961 until 25 October 1961. The main characters are Suske (Spike), Wiske (Suzy), aunt Sidonia, Lambik (Ambrose), Jerom (Jethro), Trezeke and her parents. The locations for this story are Belgium and India. The album was reedited in 1970 as No 104 in the coloured series.
Jerom (Jethro), Lambik (Ambrose) and
Trezeke's father with a replica of the Taj Mahal
Synopsis
Lambik (Ambrose) receives a replica of the Taj Mahal for helping Trezeke. He finds a money producing ring in the replica when Jerom (Jethro) accidently breaks it. Lambic starts handing out money to anyone who wants it but after a short time he is wanted by the police. He escapes but there are also two Indian bandits interested in the ring...
Lambik (Ambrose) as "De wilde weldoener", Wiske (Suzy) and Suske (Spike)
Cars
- Taxi probably Simca Aronde
- Ford Taunus Transit (FK 1000)
- Ford Consul Classic
- Renault 4CV
- Willys MB Jeep
Simca Aronde ?
Ford Taunus Transit (FK 1000)
Ford Consul Classic
Renault 4CV
Willys MB Jeep
No 45: "Het hondenparadijs"
- two-coloured
- never published in English
- story and drawings by Willy Vandersteen
- published in French ("Bob et Bobette") as "Le Paradis des chiens"
- published in Swedish ("Fin och Fiffi") as "Hundarnas paradis"
Cover "Het hondenparadijs" (1962)
Pre-published in "De Standaard" and "Het Nieuwsblad" from 26 October 1961 and ending on 6 March 1962. The main characters are Suske (Spike), Wiske (Suzy), Schanulleke (Muffin), aunt Sidonia, Lambik (Ambrose), Jerom (Jethro), and the dogs Tobias and Dolly. The album was reedited in 1969 as No 98 in the coloured series. Its the first story with Tobias he reappears in "De Kaartendans", "Amoris van Amoras", "De mysterieuze mijn", "De verraderlijke Vinson", "Het verdronken land" en the short story "De mollige marmotten".
Lambik (Ambrose) accidently hits a dog with his car
Synopsis
When Lambik (Ambrose) accidently hits a dog with his car, Wiske (Suzy) convinces him to take the dog home...
Wiske (Suzy), Tobias, Suske (Spike), aunt Sidonia and Lambik (Ambrose)
Cars
- Mercury Comet
- Ford Consul Classic
- Ford Galaxy
Mercury Comet
Ford Consul Classic
Ford Galaxy
No 46: "De kaartendans"
- two-coloured
- published in English as “Dancing cards” in 1983 ("Willy and Wanda")
- story and drawings by Willy Vandersteen
- published in French ("Bob et Bobette") as "La Dame de carreau"
- published in Portugese ("Bob e Bobette") as "A Dama de ouros"
- published in Swedish ("Fin och Fiffi") as "Det hemlighetfulla slottet"
- published in Finnish ("Finn och Fiffi") as "Den grædende ruderdame"
- published in Norwegian ("Finn & Fiffi") as "Det hemmelighetsfulle slottet"
- published in Chinese
Cover "De kaartendans"
Pre-published in "De Standaard" en "Het Nieuwsblad" from 8 March 1962 and ending on 13 July 1962. The main characters are Suske (Spike), Wiske (Suzy), Schanulleke (Muffin), aunt Sidonia, Lambik (Ambrose), Jerom (Jethro), B. Hucht, Tobias, Dolleke, Anne-Marie Van Zwollem and Van Zwollem. This story contains a caricature of French president Charles de Gaulle. There is also a reference to German singer Conny Froboess. This album was reedited as No 101 in the coloured series in 1970.
Caricature of French president Charles de Gaulle reading a book "Trip to Algeria"
Wiske (Suzy) imitating Conny Froboess

Synopsis
At a jumble sale Sidonia buys Wiske (Suzy) a large playing card with a crying Queen of Diamonds. It appears that more people are interested in the large playing card. Mr. Van Zwollem wants to get the card in his possession, in his castle he is looking for a hidden passage that leads to a castle full of large playing cards...
Aunt Sidonia, Suske (Spike), Wiske (Suzy) and the Queen of Diamonds
Cars
- Ford Fairlane
- Renault Floride
- Ford Consul Capri
- Ford Taunus 17M (P3)
Ford Fairlane
Renault Floride
Ford Consul Capri
Ford Taunus 17M (P3)