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  When Hollywood met Normandy, on Sword Beach, 1944

  There is a famous black and white film, produced by Darryl F. Zanuck with the best intentions of exposing the horror and bravery of war.  He had determined to make a revolutionary, realistic movie to parade before audiences who were just boys and girls during WW2. The film would be about 6 June 1944, it is called The Longest…

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  Where are the stone soldiers of Manoir des gens d’Armes? In Caen

  There have been a lot of changes for this old building and something quite spectacular is now missing... There have probably been dwellings on this piece of land by the Orne river since dwellings took over from caves and nice hollow trees.  We do know a ‘Manor Talbotière’ stood here and was given by John…

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  Where is Colbert Marie? The Caen prison massacre of 6 June 1944

  First published 2016/05/14 We discovered this moment in Caen WW2 history reading the marvelous magazine Patrimone Normand ‘Normandy Heritage’ who have very kindly allowed us to use some of their photographs. Caen in the spring of 1944 One spring evening in 1944 Colbert Marie, age 17, left his boxing club with friends the Boutrios brothers;…

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  Where there’s a whale there’s a way, in Villerville

  For Simon Max, talented actor, bewitching tenor and star of the Belle Époque stage, it all began with a telegram. For the whale it probably started in the chilly North East Atlantic. The year is 1893 and Simon Max is at the peak of his Parisienne popularity.  Far far away a large whale is rather unwell.…

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  Bonne fête des Pères!

  This Bonne fête des Pères postcard reveals what it takes to be a father, at least in the eyes of a 1960's photographer; nice beige shirt with coordinating driving gloves, bottle of something strong, a lighter shaped like a spaceship, cigars, camera, portable cine viewer, tie clip. The stage is set for an evening of…