Friday 20 February 2015

1970, Film: “Les novices”

The French-Italian film "Les novices" is released 28 October 1970 in France. The film directed by Guy Casaril and Claude Chabrol was written by Guy Casaril and Paul Gégauff . Main stars are Brigitte Bardot as Agnès and Annie Girardot as Mona Lisa.

Synopsis
Sister Agnès (Brigitte Bardot) escapes from the convent of St. Opportune. When she arrives in Paris she meets Mona Lisa a luxury prostitute who invites her at her home...


Main cast
  • Brigitte Bardot as Agnès
  • Annie Girardot as Mona Lisa
  • Jean Carmet as the client with the dog
  • Noël Roquevert as the sadistic
  • Jacques Jouanneau as the client of Mona Lisa
  • Jess Hahn as the American
  • Clément Michu : the double file client
  • Jacques Duby as the ambulance driver
  • Antonio Passalia as the playboy
  • Dominique Zardi as the agent

Brigitte Bardot as Agnès
Brigitte Bardot as Agnès
Brigitte Bardot as Agnès
Brigitte Bardot as Agnès and Annie Girardot as Mona Lisa
Annie Girardot as Mona Lisa and Brigitte Bardot as Agnès
Annie Girardot as Mona Lisa and Brigitte Bardot as Agnès

"Les novices" Trailer (1970)

"Les novices" French doumentary (1970)

Saturday 14 February 2015

1969, Belgian Comics: “Steven Sterk” (original title: “Benoît Brisefer”)

In 1969 a new "Steven Sterk" (Eng.: "Steve Strong"; original: "Benoît Brisefer") album "Oom Ponnes" (Eng.: "Uncle Ponnes"; original: "Tonton Placide") is published by Dupuis (reissued by Lombard, 1997). It is the fourth album in the series created by Peyo alias Pierre Culliford. 

The story was pre-published in the magazine "Spirou"/"Robbedoes" (1968). Cartoonist and writer Peyo was assisted by François Walthéry for scenery drawings and for the story by Gos (Roland Goossens).The main characters are Steven Sterk (Benoît Brisefer), uncle Ponnes (tonton Placide), Colonel Braller, Karl Franz Sjnik, and bad guys and dolls No 1, Max, Raphaël, Antoon, Fredo, Bertus, Miss Linders and Lolita.

Steven Sterk No 4: "Oom Ponnes" (original title: "Tonton Placide")
Synopsis
Steven Sterk (Benoît Brisefer) spends his summer holidays with his uncle Ponnes (Placide), a member of the Secret Service, responsible for the safety of politicians. Colonel Braller, his superior, disrupts his holiday to escort Mr. Sjnik, Finance Minister of a foreign country, together with important documents for printing banknotes. Ponnes protests, arguing that he is on vacation with his nephew. The Colonel allows him to take Steven with him because it's a safe mission...
Steven Sterk (Benoît Brisefer) with his uncle Ponnes (Placide)
Steven Sterk (Benoît Brisefer) with his uncle Ponnes (Placide) and
Karl Franz Sjnik
Cars
  • Citroën DS
  • Lamborghini 400 GT
  • Mercedes-Benz W111
  • Ford Mustang (1965)
  • Taxi probably Fiat 1100
  • BMC prototype by Pininfarina (1967)
  • unidentified probably Fiat Spider
  • oldtimer probably Ford A
Citroën DS
Lamborghini 400 GT
Mercedes-Benz W111
Ford Mustang (1965)
Taxi probably Fiat 1100
BMC (British Motor Corporation) prototype by Pininfarina (1967)
unidentified probably Fiat Spider
oldtimer probably Ford A

Friday 13 February 2015

1968, Cars: Car of the Year, NSU Ro80

The NSU Ro80 won the Car of the year award in 1968 with 197 points. Second was the Fiat 125 with 133 points and third the Simca 1100 with 94 points.

The Ro80 designed by Claus Luthe, was considered very modern at the time. With a large glass area and a very slippery shape, the car looked very futuristic in 1968. The low drag coefficient of 0.355 allowed a top speed of 180 km/h. Not only the shape was ahead of its time, the Ro80 was also technologically advanced, particularly the powertrain, a 84 kW 995 cc twin-rotor Wankel engine driving the front wheels through a semi-automatic transmission. The Wankel rotary engine was for the first time used in the NSU Spider (1964).
First Place: NSU Ro80
Second Place: Fiat 125
Third Place: Simca 1100
In September 1969 the rectangular headlights were replaced with twin halogen units, and air extractor vents appeared on the C-pillar behind the doors. In August 1970 a slightly reshaped plastic grill replaced the original metal grill. In May 1975 the rear lights were enlarged and the bumpers were fitted with rubber inserts.
NSU Ro80 1967
NSU Ro80 1969
By 1969 NSU was acquired by Volkswagen, and merged with Auto Union to create the modern day Audi company as it is known today. The last designed NSU, the NSU K70, was sold as the Volkswagen K70 (1970 – 1975).
NSU Ro80 1975
NSU Ro80 1975
Production of the Ro80 started in October 1967 and the last examples came off the production line in April 1977. In total 37398 NSU Ro80s were produced.


NSU Ro80 ZDF Autotest with Rainer Günzler (German, 1967)


NSU Ro80 1969 advert with "Der Kommissar" stars
Erik Ode as Herbert Keller and Günther Schramm as Walter Grabert



NSU Ro80 Top Gear with Quentin Wilson (English, 1994)


NSU Ro80 Brochure, Germany 1967
NSU Ro80 Brochure, Germany 1971
NSU Ro80 Brochure, UK 1968

Wednesday 11 February 2015

1967, Television: “At Last the 1948 Show”

"At Last the 1948 Show" premieres on 15 February 1967 on Britain's ITV network. The satirical TV show was made by David Frost in association with Rediffusion London. The show directed by Ian Fordyce, stars Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Marty Feldman and Aimi MacDonald. It is generally considered as the forerunner of the iconic "Monty Python's Flying Circus".

Between the sketches unrelated sequences featuring 'the lovely' Aimi Macdonald were used, an idea later recycled in Monty Python's "And now for something completely different" links. Almost half a century after the show had its only run on television, the catchphrase "I'm the lovely Aimi MacDonald" was still used occasionally.
Top to bottom: Aimi MacDonald, Marty Feldman, Graham Chapman,
John Cleese and Tim Brooke-Taylor


Left to right: Tim Brooke-Taylor, John Cleese, Aimi MacDonald,
Graham Chapman and Marty Feldman
There was no relation with the year 1948, the title referred to television executives tendency to take time over making commissioning decisions. Two series were produced with a total of 13 25-minute episodes.


Annoying train passenger sketch (Marty Feldman and John Cleese)


I love the lovely Aimi MacDonald (Aimi MacDonald)

Tuesday 10 February 2015

1966, Film: “Le Saint prend l'affût”

The French-Italian film "Le Saint prend l'affût" (English: "The Saint Lies in Wait") is released 26 October 1966 in France. The film directed by Christian-Jaque and written by Jean Ferry is based on the character created by Leslie Charteris. Main stars are Jean Marais as Simon Templar alias “Le Saint”, Jess Hahn as Hoppy Uniatz and Danièle Evenou as Sophie Chartier.

Synopsis
Oscar Chartier (Henri Virlojeux) plays a dangerous double game by selling secret plans to the German and American secret services, to ensure a comfortable future for his daughter, Sophie (Danièle Evenou). But the plans are fake and Chartier decides to get help from his good friend Simon Templar (Jean Marais)...
Jean Marais as Simon Templar alias "The Saint"
Henri Virlojeux as Oscar Chartier alias "Oscar le Tortureux"
Jess Hahn as Hoppy Uniatz and Jean Marais as Simon Templar
Danièle Evenou as Sophie Chartier
Dario Moreno as Slimane
Jean Yanne as Mueller-Strasse
Danièle Evenou as Sophie Chartier and Jean Marais as Simon Templar
Jacques Marbeuf and Maria Broverhoff as American secret agents
Trivia
Stunt arranger Gil Delamare, doubling for Jean Marais, was killed during a car stunt with a Renault Caravelle 1100 S.

Gil Delamare at the wheel of the Renault Caravelle 1100 S, moments before the accident
Main cast
  • Jean Marais as Simon Templar alias "The Saint"
  • Raffaella Carrà as Anita Pavone
  • Jess Hahn as Hoppy Uniatz
  • Jean Yanne as Mueller-Strasse, German secret agent
  • Danièle Evenou as Sophie Chartier
  • Henri Virlojeux as Oscar Chartier alias "Oscar le Tortureux"
  • Sylvain as Hans, German secret agent
  • Dario Moreno as Slimane
  • Henri Guégan as German secret agent
  • Tiberio Murgia as Tonio Catoni
  • Claudio Gora as Joe Colosimo
  • Nerio Bernardi as Cesare Pavone, the Commandatore
  • Ettore Bevilacqua as Gringo
  • Carlo Piscane as Cameleoni
  • Hélène Dieudonné as Herminie
  • Daniel Crohem as Colonel Wade
  • Reinhardt Kolldehoff as Schmutz, German secret agent
  • Roger Carel as the professor
  • Siegfried Rauch as Johnny K.W. Mest
  • Jacques Marbeuf as American secret agent
  • Maria Broverhoff as Monica, American secret agent
  • Katia Christina as Mary

Saturday 7 February 2015

1965, Belgian Comics: “Piet Pienter en Bert Bibber”

In 1965 a new "Piet Pienter en Bert Bibber" album "Invasie uit het heelal" (translation: "Invasion from outer space") is published. The series "Piet Pienter en Bert Bibber" was created by Pom alias Jozef Van Hove.

The story was pre-published in the newspaper "Gazet van Antwerpen". The main characters are Piet Pienter, Bert Bibber, Susan, Theo Flitser, Professor Kumulus, Karkstoel and the Mayor of Pulderwezel.


Piet Pienter en Bert Bibber: "Invasie uit het helaal"
Synopsis
In the observatory at Mount Pamolar (USA), Professor Ambrose Zembla thinks he located he located a new star...
Professor Ambrose Zembla
Piet Pienter, Bert Bibber and Susan
Theo Flitser
Karkstoel and the Mayor of Pulderwezel
Piet Pienter, Professor Kumulus, Susan and Bert Bibber
Cars
  • Ford Taunus 17M (P3)
  • Mercury Comet
  • Ford F-1000 Truck
  • Ford Thames Trader Truck
  • Ford Anglia 105E
Ford Taunus 17M (P3)
Mercury Comet
Ford F-1000 Truck
Ford Thames Trader Truck
Ford Anglia 105E