Saturday 30 December 2023

1970, Film: L'Étalon

The French comedy "L'Étalon" (English title: "The Stud") was released on 13 February 1970 in France. The film was directed by Jean-Pierre Mocky with a screenplay by Bourvil and Alain Moury. Main stars are Bourvil as William Chaminade, Francis Blanche as Dupuis and Jacques Legras as Pointard. The music was composed by François de Roubaix.

"L'Étalon" 1970 Poster

Synopsis
During his vacation, veterinarian William Chaminade (Bourvil) is brought in to treat a neglected woman who has attempted suicide...

Bourvil as William Chaminade
Bourvil as William Chaminade and
Francis Blanche as Dupuis
Bourvil as William Chaminade

Main cast

  • Bourvil as William Chaminade
  • Francis Blanche as Dupuis
  • Jacques Legras as Pointard
  • R.J. Chauffard as Finus
  • Noëlle Leiris as Nelly Pointard
  • Marcel Pérès as Moursson
  • J.C.Rémoleux as Le député Léon Lacassagne
  • Lionel Labarrère as Lionel
  • Francis Terzian as Ferrucci
  • Solange Certain as Irene Dupuis
  • Vasco as Sam Radock
  • Michel Lonsdale as Both
  • Denise Péronne as Mlle Lorthiloir, l'infirmière
  • Roger Legris as Le président de l'Assemblée
  • Pierre Benedetti as Michel Lyx


Trailer

Sunday 24 December 2023

1969, Belgian Comics: "Jerom, Het gouden hoofd"

In 1969 the 22nd "Jerom" album "Het gouden hoofd" (English: "The Golden Head") 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" (English: "The Mad Musketeers"). In his first appearance as the strongest man in the Western Hemisphere, Willy Vandersteen portrayed him as an uncivilised loincloth figure.

No 22 "Het gouden hoofd"

- full-colour
- never published in English
- story and drawings by Studio Vandersteen
- French title: "Het gouden hoofd"
- German title: "Wastl und der sprechende Goldkopf" in "Felix"

Cover

The main characters are Jerom (Jethro), Tante Sidonia (aunt Sidonia), Professor Barabas, Odilon, Sadhu, Ramelta, Brokjam, Ramjar, Rabindra, Ganda, Potjam and the Maharadja of Dragupta.

Aunt Sidonia and Jerom (Jethro)
Jerom (Jethro) and the Maharadja of Dragupta
Professor Barabas and Odilon

Synopsis
The Maharaja of Dragupta has a golden head that has to speak every year in order to stay in power. It's broken and the Brorors want to seize power. The Maharaja has asked Professor Barabas to repair the statue. He flies with Jerom, Aunt Sidonia and Odilon to India...

Potjam, the Maharadja of Dragupta and aunt Sidonia
Aunt Sidonia and Rameltda

Cars

  • Mercury Cougar
  • Willys MB
  • Unidentified car

Mercury Cougar
Unidentified car
Willys MB

Saturday 9 December 2023

1968, Television: The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

The American children television series "The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" premiered on 15 September 1968. The series was produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and distributed by NBC. It ran for 20 thirty minute colour episodes. The title role stars Michael Shea as Huckleberry Finn, LuAnn Haslam as Becky Thatcher, Kevin Schultz as Tom Sawyer and Ted Cassidy as Injun Joe. It was the first live-action and animated television series with three live-action heroes navigating weekly adventures within an animated world as they attempted to outrun the vengeful "Injun Joe".

Michael Shea as Huckleberry Finn
LuAnn Haslam as Becky Thatcher

The live actors were filmed in front of a royal blue backdrop (the forerunner to the CGI green screen) and the cartoon background and characters were animated in later. The young cast was required to master the art of engaging in conversational exchanges without having their animated co-stars to interact with. Each episode took approximately four hours to film and six months to animate. The title song was composed by Ted Nichols.

Kevin Schultz as Tom Sawyer
LuAnn Haslam as Becky Thatcher

Synopsis
Late afternoon in Hannibal, Missouri, Aunt Polly and Mrs. Thatcher are concerned for their children arriving late at home. Huckleberry Finn (Michael Shea), Becky Thatcher (LuAnn Haslam) and Tom Sawyer (Kevin Schultz) are taking a shortcut home through the town's graveyard, where they encounter "Injun Joe" (Ted Cassidy)...

Ted Cassidy as Injun Joe

Main Cast

  • Michael Shea as Huckleberry Finn
  • LuAnn Haslam as Becky Thatcher
  • Kevin Schultz as Tom Sawyer
  • Ted Cassidy as Injun Joe
  • Dorothy Tennant as Mrs. Thatcher
  • Anne Bellamy as Aunt Polly

Opening and closing credits

Wednesday 6 December 2023

1967, Car Spotting: Kolfstraat and Statenplein, Dordrecht, Netherlands

Left to right

First row, front to back
Morris Oxford series V, Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Beetle, Type 1), Austin A40 Farina Mark II, Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Beetle, Type 1).

Second row, on the road
Renault 8.

Third row, front to back
Opel Rekord (A), Volkswagen 1600 TL (Type 3, Fastback), Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Beetle, Type 1), Citroën 2CV, DAF 750/Daffodil, unidentified car, Ford Taunus 12M (P4), Volkswagen 1600 TL (Type 3, Fastback), Opel Kapitän P2, unidentified car.

Fourth row, front to back
Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Beetle, Type 1), BMW 1502/1602 (02 Series), Singer Gazelle, Ford Taunus 15M (P6), Simca 1000, Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Beetle, Type 1), Ford Consul (EOTA), Fiat 850, Opel (Olympia) Rekord (P1).

Fifth row, on the road
Opel Rekord (P2).

Sixth row, front to back
Opel Kadett (A), Opel Kadett (B), Peugeot 404, unidentified car, Ford Taunus 12M (P4), unidentified car probably Fiat 1100, Ford Cortina Mark II.

Seventh row, front to back
Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Beetle, Type 1), Fiat 850, Fiat 600, Renault Dauphine, two unidentified cars.

Eight row, front to back
Simca 1000, Renault Dauphine, Citroën 2CV, Volvo PV544.

Parked in the back, left to right
Volkswagen 1100/1200 (Beetle, Type 1), DAF 750/Daffodil, Volkswagen 1600 TL (Type 3, Fastback), unidentified car, Ford Taunus 17M (P3), Opel (Olympia) Rekord (P1), Opel Rekord (P2).


Saturday 2 December 2023

1966, Cars: Nissan Sunny / Datsun Sunny / Datsun 1000 (B10, VB10, KB10)

In September 1966 Japanese auto-maker Nissan introduced the first Datsun Sunny as the Datsun 1000 with two body styles, a two-door sedan (B10) and a van/station wagon (VB10). The new car featured a L4 engine (A10) with 988 cc and a four-speed gearbox claiming a total horsepower of 46 kW. The car was produced at the Zama Plant, Kanagawa, Japan.

Nissan: Datsun Sunny 1000 2-door sedan (B10)
Nissan: Datsun Sunny 1000 2-door sedan (B10)

In 1968 the four-door sedan and the new coupé (KB10) was introduced, marketed as the "Sunny Coupé" in Japan. The engine in the coupé had a higher compression resulting in a total horsepower of 49 kW. The coupé was only exported to Australia, where it was sold as the "Datsun 1000 Coupé".

Nissan: Datsun Sunny 1000 Coupé (KB10)
Nissan: Datsun Sunny 1000 Coupé (KB10)

Production of the Sunny (B10) ended in December 1969. In 1970 it was succeeded by the second-generation Nissan Sunny (B110).

Nissan: Datsun Sunny 1000 Station Wagon (VB10)
Successor Nissan: Datsun Sunny (B110)

Brochures
Datsun 1000 (B10, English, 1967)
Datsun Sunny (B10, 2-door, Japanese, 1968)
Datsun 1000 Coupé (KB10, English, 1968)
Datsun 1000 (B10, 2-door, English, 1969)
Datsun 1000 (B10, 4-door, English, 1969)
Datsun 1000 Van (VB10, Dutch, 1969)
Datsun 1000 (B10/VB10, English, 1969)