Sunday 20 February 2022

1963, Cars: Vauxhall Viva HA

The Vauxhall Viva HA was announced in September 1963. The car was powered by a 1.057 cc four cylinder engine as a 2-door saloon. The engine was front-mounted and driving the rear wheels. Initially the car was launched in Standard and Deluxe versions. In France, Algeria and Tunisia it was sold as the Vauxhall Epic, and in Canada as the Envoy Epic.

Vauxhall Viva HA Standard
Vauxhall Viva HA Deluxe

In 1964 changes included improved seats and better steering, and in 1965 the luxurious SL variant was offered.

Vauxhall Viva HA Deluxe
Vauxhall Viva HA SL

In 1966 the Vauxhall Viva HA was succeeded by the Vauxhall Viva HB, a total of  309,538 Vauxhall Viva HAs were produced.

Succesor Vauxhall Viva HB


Vauxhall Viva 1964 Commercial

Saturday 12 February 2022

1962, Car Spotting: Grand Hôtel, Hendrikaplein, Nieuwpoort, Belgium

First row, left to right
Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Beetle, Type 1), Ford Taunus 12M or 15M, unidentified car probably Opel,  Renault Dauphine, Opel Rekord P2, Renault 4CV, Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Beetle, Type 1), Renault Dauphine, Ford Anglia 105E, Jaguar E-Type Coupé, Ford Taunus 17 M (P2, aka Baroque Taunus or  Flying carpet).

Second row, left to right
Opel Rekord Caravan (P2), Citroën 2CV, Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Beetle, Type 1), Mercedes-Benz W110, Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Beetle, Type 1), Citroën 2CV.

Third row, left to right
Unidentified blue car probably Ford, unidentified white car probably Fiat, DAF Daffodil, unidentified car, Peugeot 403, Citroën 2CV, Citroën Traction Avant, Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Beetle, Type 1), Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Beetle, Type 1).

Fourth row, left to right
Unidentified white car, unidentified blue car probably Vauxhall, Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Beetle, Type 1), Renault Dauphine, Panhard PL 17.

Fifth row, left to right
Unidentified American car, unidentified car, unidentified car probably Opel, unidentified car probably Peugeot 403, Volkswagen 1500 Break (Type 3), unidentified red car, Peugeot 403, Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Beetle, Type 1), Ford Taunus 17 M (P3 aka Bath-tub Taunus).

Sixth row, left to right
Three unidentified white cars, unidentified silver car probably Peugeot, two unidentified cars, Citroën Ami 6, three unidentified cars, Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Beetle, Type 1), unidentified car.

Seventh row, left to right
Citroën 2CV fourgonnette, unidentified break, Jaguar E-Type roadster, Simca 1000, Citroën Traction Avant, unidentified car probably Ford Consul.


 

Sunday 6 February 2022

1961, Music: Belgian Single Charts 01/02/1961

N° 20
Die Regenpfeifer – Der rote Tango

- Country: West Germany
- Music/Lyrics: Johnny Hoes
- Highest Position: N° 4
- Weeks in the charts: 24
- Video clip

 


N° 19
Roy Orbison – Only The Lonely

- Country: USA
- Music/Lyrics: Roy Orbison, Joe Melson
- Highest Position: N° 6
- Weeks in the charts: 20
- Video clip

 

 

N° 18
The Seabirds – Protest Rock

- Country: Belgium
- Music/Lyrics: Gerd Frank, Benny Welton
- Highest Position: N° 16
- Weeks in the charts: 12
- Video clip




N° 17
Cliff Richard & The Shadows – I Love You

- Country: UK
- Music/Lyrics: Bruce Welch
- Highest Position: N° 14
- Weeks in the charts: 8
- Video clip



N° 16
Conny und Peter Kraus – Va bene

- Country: West Germany
- Music/Lyrics: v. Pinelli, Fini Busch, Werner Scharfenberger
- Highest Position: N° 14
- Weeks in the charts: 8
- Video clip



N° 15
Paul Anka – The Story Of My Love

- Country: Canada
- Music/Lyrics: Burt Bacharach, Hal David, Paul Anka
- Highest Position: N° 15
- Weeks in the charts: 12
- Video clip




N° 14
The Jokers – Cecilia Rock

- Country: Belgium
- Music/Lyrics: Earl Burroughs, Jos Clauwers
- Highest Position: N° 14
- Weeks in the charts: 8
- Video clip




N° 13
Bobbejaan Schoepen – Grijze haren

- Country: Belgium
- Music/Lyrics: Bobbejaan Schoepen
- Highest Position: N° 10
- Weeks in the charts: 12
- Video clip



N° 12
Freddy – Weit ist der Weg

- Country: West Germany
- Music/Lyrics: Günter Loose, Lotar Olias
- Highest Position: N° 8
- Weeks in the charts: 20
- Video clip




N° 11
Brenda Lee – Emotions

- Country: USA
- Music/Lyrics: Mel Tillis, Ramsey Kearney
- Highest Position: N° 6
- Weeks in the charts: 12
- Video clip




N° 10
De Wilmari's – Barcelona!

- Country: Netherlands
- Music/Lyrics: Johnny Hoes, Wim van Boerdonk
- Highest Position: N° 10
- Weeks in the charts: 20
- Video clip




N° 9
Johnny Tillotson – Poetry In Motion

- Country: USA
- Music/Lyrics: Paul Kaufman, Mike Anthony
- Highest Position: N° 9
- Weeks in the charts: 8
- Video clip



N° 8
Lucienne Delyle – Je suis seule ce soir

- Country: France
- Music/Lyrics: André Hornez, Louis Poterat, Léo Lelièvre
- Highest Position: N° 8
- Weeks in the charts: 12
- Video clip


N° 7
The Blue Diamonds – Ramona

- Country: Netherlands
- Music/Lyrics: Mabel Wayne, L. Wolfe Gilbert
- Highest Position: N° 2
- Weeks in the charts: 20
- Video clip




N° 6
Fats Domino – My Girl Josephine

- Country: USA
- Music/Lyrics: Dave Bartholomew, Antoine "Fats" Domino
- Highest Position: N° 5
- Weeks in the charts: 16
- Video clip



N° 5
The Drifters – Save The Last Dance For Me

- Country: USA
- Music/Lyrics: Mort Shuman, Doc Pomus
- Highest Position: N° 2
- Weeks in the charts: 20
- Video clip


N° 4
Alberto Cortez – Sucu sucu

- Country: Argentina
- Music/Lyrics: Tarateño Rojas
- Highest Position: N° 4
- Weeks in the charts: 20
- Video clip




N° 3
The Cousins – Kili-Watch

- Country: Belgium
- Music/Lyrics: Gus Derse
- Highest Position: N° 3
- Weeks in the charts: 24
- Video clip




N° 2
Elvis Presley – Are You Lonesome To-Night?

- Country: USA
- Music/Lyrics: Roy Turk, Lou Handman
- Highest Position: N° 1
- Weeks in the charts: 16
- Video clip


N° 1
Elvis Presley – Wooden Heart (muss i denn...)

- Country: USA
- Music/Lyrics: Fred Wise, Ben Weisman, Kay Twomey, Bert Kaempfert
- Highest Position: N° 1
- Weeks in the charts: 27
- Video clip

Wednesday 2 February 2022

1960, Film: Fortunat

The French tragic-comedy film, co-produced by Italy, "Fortunat" (English: "Fortunate") was released on 16 November 1960 in France. The film, directed by Alex Joffé, was written by himself based on the novel "Fortunat, ou le père adopté" from 1955 by Michel Breitman. Main stars are Bourvil and Michèle Morgan.

"Fortunat" Poster

Synopsis
During the Second World War Émilienne Massillon (Gaby Morlay), a teacher, tries to help Juliette Valcourt (Michèle Morgan) who is being hunted by the Nazis after the arrest of her husband, a leader of the Resistance. Juliette and her children must reach the French-controlled zone in the south, to take refuge in Toulouse. For that it is necessary for them to cross the Demarcation line. It is Noël Fortunat (Bourvil) who is charged with leading the two children and their mother to safety...

Bourvil as Noël Fortunat and Michèle Morgan as Juliette Valcourt
Frédéric Mitterrand as Maurice Valcourt and Michèle Morgan as Juliette Valcourt

Main cast

  • Bourvil as Noël Fortunat
  • Michèle Morgan as Juliette Valcourt
  • Frédéric Mitterrand as Maurice Valcourt
  • Patrick Millow as Pierre Valcourt
  • Rosy Varte as Rosette Falk
  • Teddy Bilis as Sam Falk
  • Albertine Sarov as Myriam Falk
  • Gaby Morlay as Émilienne Massillon
Michèle Morgan as Juliette Valcourt and Bourvil as Noël Fortunat

Trivia

  • Frédéric Mitterrand who plays 13 year old Maurice Valcourt is the nephew of politician François Mitterrand who would become French President from 1981 to 1995.
  • The most beautiful scene is the moment when the two boys (Maurice  (Frédéric Mitterrand) and Pierre (Patrick Millow)) and the girl (Myriam (Albertine Sarov)) are eating bread and are pretending they're savoring chicken.

Trailer