Sunday 28 July 2019

1973, Film: “The Day of the Jackal”

The British/French thriller film "The Day of the Jackal" premiered on 16 May 1973 in New York City, New York, USA. The film was directed by Fred Zinnemann with a screenplay by Kenneth Ross based on the novel with the same title by the English author Frederick Forsyth. Main stars are Edward Fox and Michael Lonsdale. It tells the story of a professional assassin known as the "Jackal" who is hired to assassinate French president Charles de Gaulle in the summer of 1963.

Synopsis
After the failed assassination attempt on the French President Charles de Gaulle on 22 August 1962, the ultra right winged militant French underground organisation OAS (“Organisation armée secrète”) decide to make another attempt, and hire a professional British assassin, known as the "Jackal" (Edward Fox)...
Edward Fox as the "Jackal"
Michael Lonsdale as Deputy Commissioner Claude Lebel
Terence Alexander as Lloyd and Tony Britton as Inspector Thomas
Main cast
  • Edward Fox as the "Jackal"
  • Michael Lonsdale as Deputy Commissioner Claude Lebel
  • Terence Alexander as Lloyd
  • Michel Auclair as Colonel Rolland
  • Alan Badel as the Minister
  • Tony Britton as Inspector Thomas
  • Denis Carey as Casson
  • Adrien Cayla-Legrand as President Charles de Gaulle
  • Cyril Cusack as the Gunsmith
  • Maurice Denham as General Colbert
  • Vernon Dobtcheff as the Interrogator
  • Jacques François as Pascal
  • Olga Georges-Picot as Denise
  • Raymond Gérôme as Flavigny
  • Barrie Ingham as St. Clair
  • Derek Jacobi as Caron
  • Jean Martin as Wolenski
  • Ronald Pickup as the Forger
  • Eric Porter as Col. Rodin
  • Anton Rodgers as Jules Bernard
  • Delphine Seyrig as Colette de Montpellier
  • Donald Sinden as Mallinson
  • Jean Sorel as Jean Bastien-Thiry
  • David Swift as Montclair
  • Timothy West as Commissioner Berthier
  • Philippe Léotard as Gendarme
Edward Fox as the "Jackal"
Edward Fox as the "Jackal" and Cyril Cusack as the Gunsmith
Awards
BAFTA for Best Film Editing: Ralph Kemplen (1974)
Edward Fox as the "Jackal"
Edward Fox as the "Jackal" and Delphine Seyrig as Colette de Montpellier
Trivia
De Gaulle was targeted for death by the OAS in relation for his Algerian initiatives. Several assassination attempts were made on him:
  • on 8 September 1961 on his way to his country home in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises
  • on 22 August 1962 in Petit-Clamart (“Opération Charlotte Corday”) when he and his wife narrowly escaped from an organized machine gun ambush on their Citroën DS. Due to the pneumatic suspension the DS could escape at full speed with a flat tire.
  • on 25 August 1963 a hired killer tried to assassinate De Gaulle, known as “The day of the Jackal”
  • on 15 August 1964 on Mont Faron near Toulon
The Presidential DS with bullet holes and flat tire, 22 August 1962
The Presidential DS with bullet holes, 22 August 1962
Goofs
There are numerous goofs in the film, these are the ones in the opening scene:
  • The man on the scooter stops at the cafe, there is an August 1964 calendar on the wall, but the opening scene took place in 1962.
  • Set in 1962 the man on the scooter passes a Peugeot 504 (marketed from 1969), a Peugeot J7 (marketed from 1965), a Volkswagen Beetle 1302 (marketed from 1971), a Peugeot 204 cabriolet (marketed from 1965), a Renault 16 (marketed from 1965) and a Fiat 850 (marketed from 1964).
  • The presidential DS passes (set in 1962) a Simca 1500 (marketed from 1963), a Peugeot 204 (marketed from 1965), a Peugeot 504 (marketed from 1969), a Citroën Ami 8 (marketed from 1969), a Renault 6 (marketed from 1968), a BMW 02 Series (marketed from 1966), an Opel Rekord C coupé (marketed from 1967), a Simca 1100 (marketed from 1967), a Simca 1501 (marketed from 1966), an Opel Rekord C (marketed from 1967) and a Renault 16 (marketed from 1965).
  • Even the Citroën DS’s are wrong in some shots, the DS with the new (second) nose was introduced in September 1962 while the assassination attempt took place in August 1962!!! The presidential DS had the first nose!
"The Day of the Jackal" trailer

Wednesday 24 July 2019

1972, Belgian Comics: “Jerom: De vleermuis”

In 1972 the 43rd "Jerom" album "De vleermuis" (French title: "La chauve-souris", translation: "The Bat") was published by the "Standaard Uitgeverij".

Jerom (English: Jethro) was introduced in 1953 as a new character in the "Suske en Wiske" (English: "Spike and Suzy") album "De dolle musketiers". In his first appearance as the strongest man in the Western Hemisphere, Willy Vandersteen portrayed him as an uncivilised loincloth figure.

No 43 "De vleermuis"
  • full-colour
  • never published in English
  • story and drawings by Studio Vandersteen
  • French title: "La chauve-souris"
No 43 "De vleermuis" ("The Bat")
The main characters are Jerom (Jethro), Tante Sidonia (aunt Sidonia), Professor Barabas, Baroness Van Kwimperzele, President Arthur, Odilon, The Bat, James the butler, John the detective, Police Officer and circus director Bolzani. The album contains a reference to “Bessy”, another Vandersteen comic series.
Baroness Van Kwimperzele and Jerom (Jethro)
Odilon, Jerom (Jethro), Professor Barabas, aunt Sidonia and President Arthur
De vleermuis (The Bat)
Jerom (Jethro): reference to “Bessy”
Synopsis
Jerom (Jethro) on his motorbike collides with Baroness Van Kwimperzele's car. When she sees how strong he is, she asks if he wants to be employed by her. She is threatened by someone who dresses up like a bat...
Jerom (Jethro) and James the butler
John the detective and Baroness Van Kwimperzele
Police officer and Jerom (Jethro)
Circus director Bolzani
Cars
  • Jerom’s (Jethro's) motorbike
  • Baroness Van Kwimperzele's car, unidentified probably based on a Rolls-Royce
  • Volkswagen Transporter T1 (Typ 2)
Jerom’s (Jethro's) motorbike
Baroness Van Kwimperzele's car, unidentified probably based on a Rolls-Royce
Volkswagen Transporter T1 (Typ 2)

Tuesday 16 July 2019

1971, Cars: Morris Marina

On 27 April 1971 the Austin Morris division of British Leyland launched the new Morris Marina, codename ADO 28. The new car, designed by Roy Haynes, was a replacement for the Morris Minor and Morris Oxford and a competitor for the Ford Cortina Mk III, Ford Escort Mk I, Vauxhall Viva HC and Hillman Avenger.


Predecessor: Morris Minor 1000
Predecessor: Morris Oxford Series VI
At launch the Morris Marina was available as 4-door saloon and 2-door coupé with a 1275cc L4 A-Series engine (MG Midget, 60 bhp) or a 1798cc L4 B-Series engine (MG B, 83 bhp, 94 bhp (TC)). In 1972 the range was extended with a 5-door estate with the 1798cc L4 B-Series engine.
Morris Marina 1.3 Saloon (1971)
Morris Marina 1.3 Coupé (1971)
Morris Marina 1.8 Saloon (1971)
Morris Marina 1.8 Coupé (1971)
Morris Marina 1.8 TC Saloon (1971)
Morris Marina 1.8 TC Coupé (1971)
Morris Marina 1.8 Estate (1972)
In 1976 the car was face lifted as the Morris Marina II. In 1977 a 1489 cc L4 diesel engine became available.
Morris Marina 2 Special Saloon (1976)
Morris Marina 2 GT Coupé (1976)
The last face lift was in 1978 with a changed grille, including driving lights, a front spoiler and redesigned bumpers and rear lights and the L4 1695 cc O-series engine. In 1980 the Morris Marina was replaced by the Morris Ital.
Morris Marina Mk III 1300 HL (1978)
Trivia
  • In the USA the car was sold as the Austin Marina from 1973 to 1975 as a two-door coupé and a four-door saloon.
  • In Canada the car was sold as the Austin Marina as two-door coupé and four-door saloon from 1972 to 1978.
  • In Australia the car was introduced in April 1972 as the Morris Marina and in 1973 it was sold under the Leyland Marina name. Additionally it was also offered from November 1973 with a 121 hp (90 kW) 2600 cc E-series six-cylinder engine.
  • The Marina was also produced as a pick-up in New Zealand.
Successor: Morris Ital (1980)
Brochures
Morris Marina, English (1971)
Morris Marina II, English (1976)

Morris Marina 1971 advert

Morris Marina Rally Testing  1971 advert

Morris Marina Mk III 1978 advert with Robin Nedwell and Geoffrey Davies

Saturday 13 July 2019

1970, Car Spotting: Campus Woudestein, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands

First row, left to right
Chrysler 160/180/2 litre, Opel Kadett B, Simca 1000, Citroën Ami 6, Renault 6, Simca 1000, BMW 02 Series, Volkswagen 1200/1300 (Beetle, Type 1)

Second row, left to right
Fiat 128, Trabant 601 Estate, Citroën 2CV, Citroën 2CV, Austin Morris Mini, Triumph Herald, Volvo 142/144, Citroën 2CV, Volkswagen 1200 (Beetle, Type 1), Citroën 2CV, Fiat 600, Simca 1000, Peugeot 204, unidentified car probably Fiat

Third row, left to right
Opel Kadett B, Citroën 2CV, Fiat 850, Opel Manta A, unidentified car, Citroën 2CV, unidentified car, Fiat 850, Citroën 2CV, several unidentified cars

Fourth row, left to right
Citroën Dyane, Volkswagen 1200 (Beetle, Type 1), DAF 33, Fiat 600, Datsun (Nissan) Sunny B110, DAF 33, unidentified car probably Volvo Amazon, unidentified car, Austin Morris Mini, Citroën 2CV, two unidentified cars, Citroën 2CV Fourgonette

Fifth row, left to right
Citroën 2CV, Austin Morris Mini, Renault 4, several unidentified cars

Sixth row, left to right
Citroën 2CV, Renault 6, Citroën 2CV, Citroën 2CV, two unidentified cars, Fiat 600, Volkswagen 1200 (Beetle, Type 1), several unidentified cars

Seventh row and more, left to right
It becomes very blurry but there’s at least a: Austin Morris Mini, Citroën Dyane, Renault 16, Volkswagen 1200 (Beetle, Type 1), Peugeot 204

Monday 8 July 2019

1969, Television: "On the Buses"

On February 28, 1969, the first episode of the British sitcom "On the buses" is broadcast on ITV. The series was created by Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe. Initially it was rejected by the BBC but it got a green light by Frank Muir, Head of Entertainment at London Weekend Television.

The series spans seven seasons and a total of 74 episodes were broadcast from 1969 to 1973. The theme music "Happy Harry" was written by Tony Russell. Hammer Film produced three spin-off films: “They are On the Buses” (1971), “Mutiny on the Buses” (1972) and “Holiday on the Buses” (1973).
Stephen Lewis as Cyril "Blakey" Blake, Doris Hare as Mabel "Mum" Butler,
Bob Grant as Jack Harper and Anna Karen as Olive Rudge
Synopsis
The series follows mostly the misadventures of bus driver Stanley "Stan" Butler (Reg Varney) and his conductor Jack Harper (Bob Grant). The curse of their professional life is Inspector Cyril "Blakey" Blake…
Stephen Lewis as Cyril "Blakey" Blake, Reg Varney as Stanley "Stan" Butler
and Bob Grant as Jack Harper
Reg Varney as Stanley "Stan" Butler, Stephen Lewis as Cyril "Blakey" Blake,
Anna Karen as Olive Rudge and Cicely Courtneidge as Mabel "Mum" Butler
Main Cast
  • Reg Varney as Stanley "Stan" Butler: a bus driver who works for the Luxton and District Traction Company. He lives with his mother Mabel, sister Olive and brother-in-law Arthur.
  • Cicely Courtneidge (S01) and Doris Hare (S02–S07) as Mabel: "Mum" Butler, Stan's mother.
  • Anna Karen as Olive Rudge: Stan's sister.
  • Michael Robbins as Arthur Rudge: Stan's brother-in-law.
  • Bob Grant as Jack Harper: Stan's conductor and best friend.
  • Stephen Lewis as Cyril "Blakey" Blake: the inspector at the bus depot.
Michael Robbins as Arthur Rudge, Anna Karen as Olive Rudge
and Reg Varney as Stanley "Stan" Butler
 Awards
“Logie Awards”: Best British Show (Australia, 1973)
Stephen Lewis as Cyril "Blakey" Blake
Trivia
  • All episodes and films were set in the fictional town Luxton.
  • Reg Varney undertook a PCV driving test to be filmed driving the bus in exterior scenes.
  • Stan Butler was supposed to be in his mid-30's, Reg Varney was already 52 when the series began. He wore heavy make-up so that he would appear younger.
  • At one time Bob Grant worked in real life as a bus driver in order to pay his education at RADA.
  • Doris Hare (“Mum”) was only 11 years older than her screen "son" Reg Varney.
"On the Buses" opening titles season 1


"On the Buses" opening titles season 3-6

Monday 1 July 2019

1968, Car Market: Sweden

This is an overview of all Swedish cars made and sold in 1968.

Saab 95
- V4 1498 cc (Ford Taunus V4)
- Estate
Saab 95
Saab 96
- V4 1498 cc (Ford Taunus V4) / 1,698 cc (Ford Taunus V4)
- Saloon
Saab 96
Saab Sonett V4
- V4 1498 cc (Ford Taunus V4)
- Coupé
Saab Sonett V4
Saab 99
- L4 1709 cc (Triumph)
- Saloon
Saab 99
Volvo P130 (Amazon)
- L4 1778 cc / 1986 cc
- Saloon 2 doors (130 / 130 S)
Volvo P130 (Amazon)
Volvo 140
- L4 1778 cc / 1986 cc
- Saloon 4 doors (144 / 144 S)
- Saloon 2 doors (142 / 142 S)
- Estate 5 doors (145 / 145 S)
Volvo 142
Volvo 144
Volvo 145
Volvo 164
- L6 2978 cc
- Saloon 4 doors
Volvo 164
Volvo P210
- L4 1778 cc
- Estate
Volvo P210
Volvo P220 (Amazon Estate)
- L4 1778 cc / 1968 cc
- Estate (220 / 220 S)
Volvo P220
Volvo 1800 S
- L4 1778 cc / 1986 cc
- Coupé
Volvo 1800 S