Francis Coplan (Agent FX 18) is a fictional French secret agent created by Paul Kenny, the nom de plume of Belgian authors Gaston Van den Panhuyse (1913-1995) and Jean Libert (1913-1981). He first appeared in print in 1953, and has since appeared in over 200 novels. He appeared in six released in the 1950s and 1960s (in each one played by a different actor), as well as a 1989 French miniseries and a long-running comic strip.
Appearances
Francis Coplan was an electronics engineer recruited by the
SDECE. From his first appearance in
Fleuve Noir Sans Issue/
No Exit in 1953 until
Sales coups à moscou pour Coplan in 1996, 237 novels of Coplan were written
[http://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.bibliopoche.com/auteur/Paul-Kenny/10614.html&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=8&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522paul%2Bkenny%2522%2B%252B%2Bcoplan%2B%2B%26start%3D40%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN] using the name of Paul Kenny.
[ French Wold Newton Universe 1945-Present] After the death of Libert, Van den Punhuyse carried on writing alone. After his death Serge Jacquemard took over until 1996.
[ Bureau De Línvisible] Van den Punhyse and Libert also wrote 18
science fiction novels under the name "Jean-Gaston Vandel" for Fleuve Noir's "Anticipation" series from 1952-1956 until the success of Coplan led them to write his adventures on a full-time basis.
By 1970, Coplan books were selling 3.5 million copies a year around the world.[p.511 Coward, David A History of French Literature: From Chanson de Geste to Cinema 2002 Blackwell Publishing]
Films
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( To Catch a Spy, 1957) (based on the novel Action immédiate), starring Henri Vidal, directed by Maurice Labro, a French film set in Geneva
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Coplan Agent Secret FX 18 ( FX 18 Secret Agent, 1964) (based on Coplan tente sa chance), starring Ken Clark, directed by Maurice Cloche, a French-Italian-Spanish coproduction partially shot in Corsica
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Coplan prend des risques ( The Spy I Love, 1964) (based on Étau sans pitié), starring Dominique Paturel, directed by Maurice Labro, French-Italian-Belgian coproduction about Arms industry industrial espionage in France
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Coplan FX 18 casse tout ( FX 18 Superspy or The Exterminators, 1965) (based on Stoppez Coplan), starring Richard Wyler, directed by Riccardo Freda, a French-Italian coproduction set and shot in Turkey
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Coplan ouvre le feu à Mexico ( Mexican Slayride, 1967) (based on Coplan fait peau neuve), starring Lang Jeffries, directed by Riccardo Freda, a French-Italian-Spanish coproduction set in Mexico but shot in Mexico and Spain
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Coplan sauve se peau ( Coplan Saves His Skin, 1968) (based on Coplan paie le cercueil), starring Claudio Brook, directed by Yves Boisset, a French-Italian-Turkish coproduction set and shot in Turkey
Television series
(1989) 6 episodes, with
Philippe Caroit
Comic strips
Over 3,000 strips by Pol Greffiere (nom de plume of Pierre leGoff)
[ Comic creator: Pierre Le Goff]
External links
