You're not going to believe what I saw last night!

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  • 10th February 2018 at 9:39 pm #22235
    Larry Lewis
    Participant

      A film directed by Claude Chabrol, called “The Good Guys and the Bad Guys” made in the early 1980s. It’s about France in the 1930s with police and gangsters leading up to the later unpleasantness where the “Underworld” and “Underground” are not exactly the same thing. French cops working for the Gestapo and all that. The film is made with the co-operation of Citroen and describes accurately the introduction of the Traction in 1934.  Looking at the cars of the period, the Traction must have seemed like a spaceship! Outrunning the cops who had no hope until they got their own Tractions.  A good film, but the thing that amazes was the 15/6 convertible seen near the end. Only for a few seconds, but still.

      13th February 2018 at 12:19 pm #22252
      Peter Fereday
      Participant

        Can’t seem to find this film listed anywhere – was it on general release?  Certainly not in Wikipedia’s Filmography on Chabrol – what was it’s original French name? Would be nice to have a link so we could see it.

         

        Peter

        14th February 2018 at 5:08 am #22258
        Larry Lewis
        Participant

          My mistake, it’s Claude Lelouche, not Claude Chabrol. The original title is “Les Bon et Les Mechants” and it’s from 1976. I watched it again last night and though the film is in a sepia-coloured semi-black and white, the 15/6 looks to be painted a light gold colour as best I can tell. I know the Madame Michelin car was an olive green, so is anyone familiar with that car? Not too good at cutting and pasting but it is on IMDB.com

           

          14th February 2018 at 9:58 am #22266
          David Faulkner
          Participant

            Here is the link Larry: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074231/ and a Google hit using the film title https://tinyurl.com/y948ygd4

            14th February 2018 at 4:23 pm #22268
            Peter Fereday
            Participant

              Great looking film, watched the trailer found through the link David posted. Also just bought a copy of the full film DVD, available cheaply on French eBay.

              As regards the 15/6 convertible at the end, I thought I had found the answer. The only true surviving 15/6 cabriolet would appear to be the Mme Michelin one, now finished in dark green:
              https://www.rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/MC16/Monaco/lots/r141-1939-citro%C3%ABn-15-cv-roadster/238720.

              Whilst this car was in the States it was a light gold colour :-

              traction 15/6 cabriolet in USA

              However the car only returned to Europe in 1997 so couldn’t have been in the film. If only six were ever made, did any others survive – at least until the 1970’s when the film was made?

              Peter

              14th February 2018 at 7:55 pm #22269
              Larry Lewis
              Participant

                According to the Sotheby’s info, it couldn’t have been the one in the film. I know the story about the Madame Michelin car, having known and had dealings with Red Dellinger  back in the 80s when I first got my 11B. There was an authentic one at Arras in 2009, the man that owned it said he owned the MM car (as I recall) but it wasn’t there.

                14th February 2018 at 9:04 pm #22271
                Peter Fereday
                Participant

                  All very interesting. Re-reading the relevant chapter in Jon Pressnell’s excellent book on the traction there is the suggestion that another genuine 15/6 convertible exists with 1946 homologation. Also the intriguing possibility that two rolling shells were acquired in 1959 by a Parisian garagiste and built up into complete 6 cylinder roadsters. Now it would be nice if that were true and one of them was in the film, but surely they would have been accounted for by now and documented somewhere???

                  15th February 2018 at 10:47 pm #22276
                  Larry Lewis
                  Participant

                    Yes it would. I wonder just how many replicas there are. Louis Grenier of Montreal has two 15/6 copies, very nice they are. My friend here, George Dyke is presently working on finding out just what the movie car is.

                    16th February 2018 at 3:41 pm #22280
                    Peter Fereday
                    Participant

                      Well the only 6cyl roadster replica I know of in the UK is the one currently owned by Steve Southgate. This car was based on a 1953 Slough built saloon using a Peacock bodyshell. It visited us here in Scotland for last year’s TOC Annual Rally – two photos attached from Boturich Castle, Loch Lomond. (1st photo thanks to Raymond Albeson, 2nd is mine).

                      I stand to be corrected though and it would be great if other people could chip in with any other cars they know about.

                       

                      Peter

                       

                      • This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by Peter Fereday. Reason: distortion of 1st photo
                      16th February 2018 at 9:56 pm #22283
                      Larry Lewis
                      Participant

                        Gorgeous car, I saw it at Arras.

                        24th February 2018 at 1:17 pm #22335
                        Anonymous

                          Hi Everyone

                          Sounds a very interesting film to watch,Is there an English version or are there just French & German? I presume that they are no versions spoken in English the ones forsale on Amazon seem to be German copies

                          regards

                          Alan

                          24th February 2018 at 8:27 pm #22344
                          Larry Lewis
                          Participant

                            It was in French with English subtitles.

                            27th February 2018 at 1:23 pm #22356
                            Anonymous

                              Hi Larry

                              Where is the best place to get a copy

                              Regards

                              Alan

                              27th February 2018 at 8:37 pm #22360
                              Peter Fereday
                              Participant

                                The copies available in the UK seem to be French language only with no subtitles – a cheap one is here for £2.95  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B000H0MJ1Q/ref=tmm_dvd_used_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=used&qid=1519763174&sr=8-1

                                If you want English subtitles you can download a copy here – https://www.opensubtitles.org/en/subtitles/6328803/le-bon-et-les-mechants-en

                                You can then scroll through it on a tablet etc while watching the DVD on your TV, tried it the other night and it works, although best to have some knowledge of French so you don’t lose your place………

                                 

                                Bon Chance

                                Peter

                                 

                                • This reply was modified 6 years, 8 months ago by Peter Fereday.
                                27th February 2018 at 11:29 pm #22365
                                Larry Lewis
                                Participant

                                  If you not seen it have a look at this. It will give you an idea.

                                  havhttps://citroenvie.com/want-to-see-a-great-traction-avant-film/e

                                   

                                   

                                   

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