1969, Film: The Assassination Bureau Limited

The British black comedy "The Assassination Bureau Limited" (US: "The Assassination Bureau") premieres in London on 10 March 1969. The film, directed by Basil Dearden, is based on the unfinished novel "The Assassination Bureau, Ltd" by Jack London. The novel was, after Jack London's death (1916), finished by Robert L. Fish. It was published in 1963. Main stars are Oliver Reed, Diana Rigg, Telly Savalas, Curd Jürgens, Philippe Noiret, Warren Mitchell and Clive Revill. Unlike London's original novel, which is set in the United States, the film is set in Europe.

Synopsis

London early 1900s, the aspiring journalist Sonia Winter (Diana Rigg) uncovers an organisation that specialises in killing high placed people for money, the Assassination Bureau, Limited. To destroy the bureau she hires the organisation to murder the bureau's own chairman, Ivan Dragomiloff (Oliver Reed)...

Diana Rigg as Sonya Winter

Oliver Reed as Ivan Dragomiloff and Diana Rigg as Sonya Winter

Warren Mitchell as Herr Weiss and Oliver Reed as Ivan Dragomiloff

Main cast

• Oliver Reed as Ivan Dragomiloff
• Diana Rigg as Sonya Winter
• Telly Savalas as Lord Bostwick
• Curd Jürgens as General von Pinck
• Philippe Noiret as Monsieur Lucoville
• Warren Mitchell as Herr Weiss
• Beryl Reid as Madame Otero
• Clive Revill as Cesare Spado
• Kenneth Griffith as Monsieur Popescu
• Vernon Dobtcheff as Baron Muntzof
• Annabella Incontrera as Eleanora Spado
• Jess Conrad as Angelo
• George Coulouris as Swiss Peasant

Diana Rigg as Sonya Winter and Philippe Noiret as Monsieur Lucoville

Diana Rigg as Sonya Winter and Telly Savalas as Lord Bostwick

Nominations

• Golden Globe (US) for Best English-Language Foreign Film, lost to "Oh! What a Lovely War"
• Golden Laurel (US) for Female New Face (Diana Rigg), lost to Ali MacGraw in "Goodbye, Columbus"

Purrr Link

The Assassination Bureau, Sample clip (1969)

1968, Music: Barry Ryan with “Eloise”

"Eloise" sung by the British singer Barry Ryan and written by his twin brother Paul Ryan, was released as a single on 22 November 1968, in the United Kingdom. The five minute song features strong orchestration with melodramatic vocals and a short slow interlude. It was number one in 17 countries including Holland, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, Germany, New Zealand and Australia.

Barry Ryan, born as Barry Sapherson on 24 October 1948 in Leeds, is the son of British singer Marion Ryan. Aged 16, he began performing with his twin brother Paul and the duo signed a recording contract with Decca in 1965. In 1967 Barry continued solo while his brother wrote the songs.

Paul and Barry Ryan (1965)

Barry Ryan (1968)

Barry, Marion and Paul Ryan (1965)

"Eloise" was covered by several artists including:

• Claude François (France, 1968)
• Tapani Kansa (Finland, 1969)
• James Last (Germany, 1969)
• Donald Lautrec (Canada, 1969)
• Los Naufragos (Argentina, 1969)
• Karel Gott (Czech Republic, 1969)
• Se (Finland, 1979)
• Mina (Italy, 1985)
• Mino Raetano (Italy, 1985)
• Robin McAuley (Ireland, 1985)
• The Damned (UK, 1986)
• Tino Casal (Spain, 1987)
• Spagna (Italy, 2001)
• Helloïse (Holland, 2001)
• Leningrad Cowboys (Finland, 2003)
• Helmut Lotti (Belgium, 2003)
• The Lucky Devils (France, 2005)
• Howard Kaylan (US, 2005)
• Art vs. Science (Australia, 2011)
• Stravaganzza (Spain, 2014)

Official Video: "Eloise" by Barry Ryan (1968)

1967, Cars: Matra (Simca) M530

French car maker Matra introduced their new sports car, the Matra Sports M530A, on March 7, 1967 at the Geneva Motor Show. It was the first fully new car developed by Matra Sports. It's predecessor, the Matra Djet, had been designed by René Bonnet as the René Bonnet Djet. The new Matra, named after Matra's R530 missile, was designed by former Simca designer Philippe Guédon.

The M530 had a steel frame with polyester body and a mid-engine, resulting a 2+2 layout with a reasonable boot. Various engines were tested (Renault Cléon-Alu engine (R16), VW 1500 engine (Type 3), BMW M10 engine (Neue Klasse 1800), Simca 1500 engine,...) and finally Matra decided to use the 1699 cc Ford V4 engine with 51 kW from the Ford Taunus 15M/17M combined with the gearbox from the Ford Taunus 15M (P6). The M530 had a targa roof and pop-up headlights. The engine bay was accesible by removing the rear acrylic window.

Predecessor: Matra Djet

Matra M530a

In 1969 the M530 followed the same evolution as the Ford Taunus 15M TS, power was increased to 55 kW. In 1970 the M530 gets a minor redesign by Michelotti with a new front bumper and rear hatch made of glass opening with struts. The car was renamed as Matra Simca M530LX because Matra closed a deal with Chrysler Europe, to sell their cars through the Simca dealer network.

Matra Simca M530LX

Matra Simca 530SX

Matra Simca 530SX and Matra Simca 530LX

In 1971 a budget version is introduced as the Matra Simca 530SX. The M530SX has no targa roof and no pop-up headlights, instead there were four fixed headlights. The SX was only available in orange and white with black bumpers instead of chrome bumpers. In 1973 the M530 was replaced by the Matra-Simca Bagheera with Simca engine. A total of 9,609 M530's were produced: 2062 Matra Sports M530A, 4731 Matra Simca M530LX and 1146 Matra Simca 530SX.

BRT Autorama (1970): Matra Simca 530LX, song "Viva el amor" in English by Will Tura

Brochures:
Matra M530, France (1968)
Matra Simca M530lx, France (1972)

1966, Belgian Comics: “Suske en Wiske”

In 1966 a new "Suske en Wiske" (UK: "Bob & Bobette" or "Spike and Suzy", US: "Willy and Wanda") album is published: "Jeromba de Griek" (translation: "Jeromba the Greek"). The series "Suske en Wiske" was created by Willy Vandersteen in 1945.

No 63: "Jeromba de Griek"

- two-coloured

- never published in English

- story and drawings by Willy Vandersteen

- published in French ("Bob et Bobette") as "Jéromba le Grec"

- published in Taiwan ("Dada & Beibei") as "Xilaren ReiHongBa"

- published in German ("Suske und Wiske") as "Jeromba, der Grieche"

- published in Greek in 1985

No 63: "Jeromba de Griek"

The story was pre-published in the newspapers "De Standaard" and "Het Nieuwsblad" from 11 October 1965 until 21 February 1966. The main characters are Suske (Spike), Wiske (Suzy), aunt Sidonia, Lambik (Ambrose), Jerom (Jethro), Kemal, Borus, Stantijn and Lasido. The locations for this story are Istanbul (Basilica Cisterne), Aya Sophia, castle Anadoluhisari. The album was reedited in 1967 as No 72 in the coloured series.

Jerom (Jethro), Wiske (Suzy), Lambik (Ambrose), Suske (Spike) and Professor Barabas

Aunt Sidonia and Lambik (Ambrose)

Jerom (Jethro) and Kemal

Synopsis

Wiske (Suzy) receives from professor Barabas as a birthday present some electronic toys resembling her friends. After some bumbling by Lambik (Ambrose), one of the toys runs outside. Jerom (Jethro) goes out to find the doll. After finding it he meets the Turk Kemal. On the way home he rescues Kemal from a gang of men. In his ship's cabin Kemal asks Jerom to hide a gold scimitar...

Borus

Lasido and aunt Sidonia

Stantijn

Trivia

• title based on the film "Zorba the Greek" (1964) with Anthony Quinn.
• some of the locations and situations are the same as in "From Russia with Love" (1963) with Sean Connery.
• Vietnam War reference (1965 - 1975): Jerom (Jethro), "Tegen crisis van Vietnamblaas.. Kunt gal laten wegnemen!" (translation: "Against the Vietnam bladder crisis.. Let them remove your gal!")
• Zwartberg cole mine closure reference (Limburg, Belgium) (1966): "Dat viel nog mee, want wat is er moeilijker dan een Turk met een Griek verzoenen? Thans? Een mijnwerker met een vakbondsleider samen Sirtaki laten dansen!" (translation: "That wasn't too bad, because what is more difficult than reconciling a Turk with a Greek? Now? Let a coalminer dance the Sirtaki with a union leader!")
• "De Rode Ridder" (translation: "The Red Knight") reference, another comic series by Vandersteen.

Vietnam War reference (1965 - 1975)

Zwartberg cole mine closure reference (Limburg, Belgium) (1966)

"De Rode Ridder" (translation: "The Red Knight") reference

Cars

• Ford Fairlane 500 (1965)
• Ford Taunus 12M (P4)
• Ford Taunus 17M/20M (P5) with the back of a P3
• unidentified coach
• Willys MB Jeep
• Ford Fairlane 500 convertible (1965)
• Simca Beaulieu/Chambord/Présidence/Marly
• three unidentified cars

Ford Fairlane 500 (1965)

Ford Taunus 12M (P4)

Ford Taunus 17M/20M (P5)

unidentified coach

Willys MB Jeep

Ford Fairlane 500 convertible (1965)

Simca Beaulieu/Chambord/Présidence/Marly

three unidentified cars

1965, Car Spotting: Amsterdam, Beursplein

From front to back:

First row, left to right: Volkswagen 1200 (Type 1, Beetle), Volkswagen 1200 (Type 1, Beetle), Mercedes-Benz 190/200 (W110), Renault Floride (early Caravelle), Citroën 2CV.

Second row, left to right: Volkswagen 1200 (Type 1, Beetle), Volkswagen 1200 (Type 1, Beetle), Citroën 2CV, Ford Zephyr 6 Mark III (214E), Ford Taunus 12M (P4), Fiat 1100/1200, Ford Taunus 17M (P3).

Third row, left to right: Borgward Isabella, hard to identify probably Renault Dauphine, Fiat 1100/1200, Ford Anglia (105E or 125E), fiat 1100/1200, Citroën 2CV, Peugeot 403.

Fourth row: Ford Zephyr 4 or 6 Mark III (211E or 214E).

Fifth row, left to right: Volkswagen 1500 notchback (Type 3), Ford Taunus 17M (P3), BMW 700 coupé, Sunbeam Rapier.

Sixth row, left to right: Volkswagen 1500 variant (Type 3), Volkswagen 1200 (Type 1, Beetle), Volkswagen 1200 (Type 1, Beetle), Fiat 500, Citroën ID/DS Break, Ford Taunus 17M (P3).

Seventh row, left to right: unidentified car (left of the dark Beetle), unidentified car probably Mercedes-Benz 190/200 (W110), Ford Zephyr 4 or 6 Mark III (211E or 214E).

Eight row, left to right: Mercedes-Benz 220 (W111), unidentified car probably Fiat 1100/1200.

Ninth row, left to right: unidentified dark coloured car left of the Mercedes 220, Ford Taunus Transit (FK 1000), Simca 1300/1500.

Tenth row, left to right: starting left of the Ford Taunus Transit: Ford Cortina Mark I, Fiat 500, Volkswagen 1200 (Type 1, Beetle), DAF 750/Daffodil, BMC Mini (Austin/Morris), Ford Cortina Mark I.

1964, Film: “Les félins”

The French thriller "Les félins" (US: "Joy House", UK: "The Love Cage") is released on 12 June 1964 in France. The film, directed and written by René Clément, is based on the novel "Joy House" (1954) by Day Keene and starring Jane Fonda, Alain Delon, and Lola Albright.

Synopsis

Marc (Alain Delon), a little criminal, is on the run from a New York gang. The gang's boss ordered to kill him because Marc had an affair with his wife. At the French Rivera Marc hides in a mission for the poor where Barbara (Lola Albright), a wealthy widow, hires him as her chauffeur. Melinda (Jane Fonda), Barbara's niece, becomes attracted to him...

Alain Delon as Marc

Jane Fonda as Melinda

Alain Delon as Marc and Jane Fonda as Melinda

Director René Clément, Jane Fonda and Alain Delon

Main Cast

• Jane Fonda as Melinda
• Alain Delon as Marc
• Lola Albright as Barbara
• Sorrell Booke as Harry
• Carl Studer as Loftus
• André Oumansky as Vincent
• Arthur Howard as Father Nielson

Jane Fonda as Melinda

Jane Fonda and Alain Delon on the set

Lola Albright as Barbara and Alain Delon as Marc

Jane Fonda as Melinda, Lola Albright as Barbara and Alain Delon as Marc
(the car is a Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Long Wheel Base LHD Hooper Perspex Top Saloon)

Trivia

• "Les félins" is the second film René Clément made for MGM, the first one was "Le jour et l'heure" (1963) with Simone Signoret, Stuart Whitman, Geneviève Page, and Michel Piccoli.
• It was Jane Fonda's first movie in France.

"Les félins" Trailer