Heinkel Kabine in film "Double Bunk"

[marcus]

For all you Heinkel - Trojan fans the 1961 film "Double Bunk" has recently been released on DVD and can be ordered from Amazon. This is great news because it was bought by Canal Plus in Paris, France over 10 years ago and kept in storage. I spent many years trying to track down a VHS or DVD copy, and finally found out  that it was owned by Canal +. I phoned them up and spoke to a very pleasant French man who said that it was so unknown that sadly it would probably never again be sold or screened. Perhaps my long chat had an impact!

Anyway, it is not a "great" film, but charming and easy going. Syd James, Ian Carmichael, Liz Fraser and Jeanette Scott, with lots of familiar faces in the supporting cast. Ian C gives his 3 litre Bentley AND £100 to buy a 2nd hand Heinkel ! Some lovely shots of the Heinkel.

Although David Hambleton did me a DVD copy 3 years ago, this does have ads in it, and I want a REAL copy, so I ordered mine IMMEDIATELY! I'm a happy bunny!

[marcus]

No-one interested in this?!
My copy arrived yesterday and I watched it last night after work. The film is a classic down-to-earth film, with some good performances by the cast, a lovely look at Britain before we became dominated by American culture. Ian Carmichael, Liz Fraser, Jeanette Scott and Syd James, plus a lot of familiar faces in the good supporting cast. In it Ian Carmichael, about to get married, decides to get something a little more practical than a "Blower" Bentley, The blower being the turbo-charger, the big lump at the base of the radiator. He trades in his BB and £100 for a 2nd hand Heinkel Kabine. There is some great footage of the Heinkel. Recommended!
Heinkels were also used in Blue Murder at St Trinians and the superb film "I'm Alright, Jack".

[Jim Janecek]

when we get finished with all our Michael Powell films it will be next on the list.

I am also hoping it will show up as a rental on NetFlix, then I can watch it and pay only a couple dollars for it.
update: it showed up on my NetFlix rental queue!  Unfortunately the "status" says "short wait" which means.....several OTHER people in the USA have this film in their NetFlix queues.

I wonder how that could have happened? 
hmmmmm perhaps more people are interested in this than you thought.

[marcus]

Over here it cost me £10.45 including shipping (about $15-20?). Worth every penny to have it available anytime you want to see it or lend it. I was tolld that this Heinkel is the same one as in the other 2 films I mentioned, but with different number plates, and dark colour in "'m Alright, Jack", not sure if this is correct.

Anyone have VHS or DVD of the Kenny Everett Television Shows where in one series, one regular sketch had a red Heinkel or Trojan in someone's living room?

[Jim Janecek]

I ripped the scenes with just the Heinkel and posted them here:
http://www.microcar.org/blog/2010/07/heinkel-kabine-in-double-bunk/
in case anyone wants to see them and cannot find the film.

[marcus]

Cheers Jim. A Heinkel was also used in Blue Murder at St Trinians and I'm Alright, Jack. I would be interested to know if they are still going. I believe all 3 cars were owned by the UK distributor at the time, and it was quite a result for a small outfit to get them into 3 films. I think the same car was used in 2 of these films, and possibly re-painted for I'm Alright Jack.

[Big Al]

I recall a German film we were shown yonks ago after a long day bubbling and a evening catching up on drink and some supper. The days of bubbling and camping in friends front rooms round North Europe. Thus details are a bit hazy but I recall a Messerschmitt being chased through a town with some really good shots including smoke trail through the streets. I think it ended up in a shoot out with one guy behind a Goggo. The thing was packed with interesting German vehicles. Never seen it again and no idea what it was called. I imagine it only really got shown to the home market. Could be on you tube or something but not under Messerschmitt/film.
The fascinating thing about films is they do prove how short lived the Bubblecar era was. In the late 50's they are there. By the time you get into the late '60's they have gone from the street scenes.
The Trojan in Kenny Everett was rented from an owner local to me and I actually drove it. Not sure who has it now. Also see Lucky Fella with David Jason, think it was in The Upchat Line too. So those in touch with archive peeps, look out for those clips.

[marcus]

I remember that one in the Everett show.... which series was it? Does anyone have it, and could they do a copy for me? I have been wanting to add it to my collection for a while!

[blob]

Great stuff I love this sort of thing. http://www.3wheelers.com/3wotv.html has quite an extensive list of movies which show micros although not all are listed, I was watching the 1966 film 'Kaleidoscope' the other day, where the opening scene shows an Isetta stuck in a traffic jam whilst it's owner is told to 'find the choke' by an argumentative truck driver.


Heres the clip though the films not much cop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW3LKOi-oi4

[richard]

  And you never even mentioned the truck driver in that last clip. later became legendary in the 70's sitcom On The Buses .with his catchphrase -  I HATE YOU BUTLER ! 

[blob]

I thought he looked familiar, completely different without the tash. Anyway whilst on the hunt for Al's German movie I spotted this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo7L5CYDOO0 Apparently it's from 'Valentin Iskelmäprinssi' a Finnish musical.

[marcus]

That yt clip has been posted before, but it is worth a 2nd look! Great stuff!
No-one have any Kenny Everett/Trojan footage?

[blob]

Why don't you ask the vendor of this which series it was... if in fact this is the genuine car.


http://www.classiccars.co.uk/heinkel/cabin_cruiser_trojan_200/advert/1322

[marcus]

Cheers Blob, sent a message.

[marcus]

Car has been sold to Germany, vendor does not have details.

Last week I ordered a VHS off Amazon of Comic Strip Classics, Mr Jolly Lives Next Door and Dirty Movie.

I remember seeing Mr Jolly on C4 soon after it started. The 2 main characters drive around (wildly) in an early Honda (Acty?) Micro van, and there is a fleeting glimpse of a Tuk-Tuk driving around Nelson's Column/Trafalgar Square.

Later on 2 more characters are seen driving down to London in a yellow LHD Trojan, which gets knocked off the road by the Honda. Not a happy sight, but hey, that's TV. I am fairly sure that this is the Trojan I used to see parked/abandoned in the road at Loughborough Junction near Brixton. I wanted to make a claim to the Police for it as abandoned, and it could have become mine, but I had nowhere to keep it, and had to watch it decline and hope it did not get trashed before someone rescued it. There is also a lovely Citroen DS19/21 Pallas, which also gets bashed.

I do not remember seeing Dirty Movie before, but it has some good shots of an Invacar (which also gets bashed).