The Film Career of FRANCOISE HARDY

[Sgt Sunshine]

Francoise Madeleine Hardy, French 60's singer and pin-up icon was born in Paris on 17/01/44, and appeared in 10 films between 1963-1980 (the vast majority between 63-67 when she was most popular).
Francoise was signed to the French Vogue label in Nov 1961 after answering a newspaper ad requesting new singers......She had recently acquired a guitar and enjoyed playing along to songs on Radio Luxembourg.
Still only 19 she was spotted by well known director Roger Vadim and given the opportunity to star alongside Monica Vitti, Jean-Claude Brialy, Curd Jurgens & Jean-Louis Trintignant in the film "Chateau en Suede" released in Nov 1963.....



Here is a short clip from the film, unfortunately its rather dark & fairly poor quality....



Cheers
Sgt S

[wearysloth]

...and pops up briefly but radiantly in What's New Pussycat

[Sgt Sunshine]

...and pops up briefly but radiantly in What's New Pussycat

Nice one wearysloth.......thats going to be in my next post......
A brief comedic interchange at the films conclusion.
Many thanks for the great pic
Cheers
Sgt S

[Sgt Sunshine]

Here's that all to brief clip of Francoise appearing in her 2nd film...."What's new Pussycat?"
By Oct '65 when this was released she already had a string of hits on both sides of the channel....



Cheers
Sgt S

[wideboy]

I found Chateau en Suede incredibly irritating; a lot of shouting, too much Curd Jurgens and Vadim's customary leaden direction. More positively there was an excellent programme on Radio 4 about FH a few weeks ago, including an interview with her in which she described how much English music had influenced her work...and the programme also made very clear how much she had influenced many susceptible Englishmen of a certain age...

[narabdela]

...and the programme also made very clear how much she had influenced many susceptible Englishmen of a certain age...

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, oh yes...!



Sorry, where was I?





(hang on, I'm Scottish.)

[Sgt Sunshine]

I found Chateau en Suede incredibly irritating; a lot of shouting, too much Curd Jurgens and Vadim's customary leaden direction. More positively there was an excellent programme on Radio 4 about FH a few weeks ago, including an interview with her in which she described how much English music had influenced her work...and the programme also made very clear how much she had influenced many susceptible Englishmen of a certain age...

Hello wideboy.......I also heard & enjoyed that programme
Here's a link for anyone interested in hearing it.....
BBC - BBC Radio 4 Programmes - Falling for Francoise
Cheers
Sgt S

[Sgt Sunshine]

Later in 1965 Francoise apparently appeared in this little known Italian "Pop" film called "Altissima Pressione" (High Pressure). The meager storyline is woven around various groups and singers more akin to Ready Steady Go.....
As Francoise name is near the bottom of the credits I feel fairly confident she doesn't perform in this strange film, but possibly makes a brief crowd appearance. This is backed up by a lack of you-tube clips of her from this film.......
Never mind ....here's a clip from the film showing a group called The Rokes, who up until now have been totally unknown to me.....



Cheers
Sgt S

[Sgt Sunshine]

Early in 1966 Francoise gets her first lead role in the little known film "Une Balle au Coeur" filmed in Greece.....



As its rather obscure no clips I'm afraid.

Next she went on to have an unaccredited role (along with Brigitte Bardot) in Jean-Luc Godard's "Masculin Feminin" 1966.....
Here's a pic of her blink & you'll miss it appearance....



Cheers
Sgt S

[Freddy]

I remember her in Grand Prix,



a beautiful woman astride a beautiful machine.

If no one minds I'll bump this up to here.

[Sgt Sunshine]

Cheers Freddy.....
I'll be posting a clip from Grand Prix in the near future, but before that she had an obscure appearance in a rather strange Italian Western Musical....
I've been searching for clips but to no avail.... but have come up with this movie poster with Francoise's name at the very bottom of the list.....



Amazingly my original PYE single "All Over the World" 1965 came in the post today (that now means I have her first 5 singles released in the UK)
Great to see that Piccadilly clip again....Pity about the embedding, but not a problem .I enjoy looking at all the ads.......
Look out fairly soon for a 3 part "fly on the wall" documentary that was filmed in London in 1965 and I'll be posting it here once I've completed her film appearances.
She has a very healthy fanclub on Facebook which is worth a look.......
Cheers
Sgt S

PS Just found a stunning pic from Grand Prix.........



Enjoy.....

[Sgt Sunshine]

As promised, here's that clip of Francoise from "Grand Prix" Not very good quality as this is the Italian dubbed version by the sound of it....and it seems someone has just pointed there video camera at the telly......
Anyhow if you haven't seen Francoise in jeans before (and I haven't) your in for a treat.....



Cheers
Sgt S

[Sgt Sunshine]

As promised a couple of posts back, here is part 1 of a 3 part journal made in 1965 whilst Francoise was here working on her 4th album. Interspersed with recording studio footage is film of her with current photographer boyfriend as they stroll through the West End towards Piccadilly for a photo shoot (seen at the end of the 3rd part).....
I would date this footage at probably June 1965 because keen eyed viewers may notice they pass near a cinema that is showing "The Knack......and how to get it", which was released in June that year......Great to see those old cars again......
Anyhow....Enjoy & part 2 will be coming up in a few days......



Cheers
Sgt S

[Sgt Sunshine]

As promised here's the second part of Francoise's journal.....
Coming up in this segment: Francoise has a go a driving in London traffic, takes a trip on the underground, disagrees about a song "ce petit coeur" (a little heart ?) and get to see her eating the last remnants of a Ryvita.....(At first I thought it was a piece of toast, but after careful analysis I think its a Ryvita......if they were around in 1965.....)
Enjoy the clip....plenty of interesting things to spot....



3rd & final part coming soon.....
Cheers
Sgt S

[Sgt Sunshine]

The third and final installment of Francoise's London journal June 1965.....which ends just as they begin a photo shoot at Piccadilly Circus.....



Cheers
Sgt S

[Sid]

Grand Prix, one of my all time favourite films. Racing cars, old race tracks and
Francoise Hardy...heaven on earth

[Sgt Sunshine]

Great photo there Sid......
Not only beautiful but talented too......she wrote or co-wrote many of her songs....



Cheers
Sgt S

[Sgt Sunshine]

Francoise was indeed a busy lady in 1965. Whilst she was in London recording her 4th album, she also did a number of short video clips for a one off programme called "The Piccadilly Show". Most were the tracks she was laying down in the studio at the time.....
This is an interesting clip of her singing "Je Taime" because of all the old advert/posters.....
(1) Who might be the actress at the very beginning supping the Courage Best Bitter?
(2) What cigarette brand is it...Marlborough??
(3) What was the ad with the little girl promoting.....??
(4) Was there really a brand of butter called "Kangeroo Butter"....



Hope you enjoy the clip.....others to follow filmed in and around central London
Cheers
Sgt S

[Sgt Sunshine]

The next clip centers on the old docklands area near Tower Bridge. Put Francoise in with those filthy smelly oil drums....what a liberty
Here she sings "Tout ce qu'on dit". Keen eyed viewers might catch a glimpse of the tug(?) SHELL SPIRIT.....
Very interesting to see how that area looked in those days.....



Cheers
Sgt S

[Sgt Sunshine]

Another interesting clip from the Piccadilly Show shows Francoise singing "Les Temps des Souvenirs". The portion between 1:02-1:19 interested me because it seemed familiar from another video clip.....
I'll hazard a guess that's The Serpentine in Hyde Park I think......?
Here's the clip....and afterward the other clip where I'd seen it previously (both filmed 1965 actually)....



I do wonder if its the same place.....no rowing boats in the Francoise clip....



Cheers
Sgt S