Les Enfants Terribles (1950)
"Les enfants terribles" (original title)

Elisabeth is very protective of her teenage brother Paul, who is injured in a snowball fight at school and has to rest in bed most of the time. The siblings are inseparable, living in the ... See full summary »

Director:

Jean-Pierre Melville

Writers:

Jean Cocteau (novel), Jean Cocteau (adaptation),

Stars:

Nicole Stéphane, Edouard Dermithe, Renée Cosima

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Nicole Stéphane	...	Elisabeth
Edouard Dermithe	...	Paul
Renée Cosima	...	Dargelos / Agathe
Jacques Bernard	...	Gerard
Melvyn Martin	...	Michael
Maria Cyliakus	...	The Mother
Jean-Marie Robain	...	Headmaster
Maurice Revel	...	Doctor
Rachel Devirys
Adeline Aucoc	...	Mariette
Emile Mathys	...	Vice Principal
Roger Gaillard	...	Gerard's Uncle
Jean Cocteau	...	Narrator (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Annabel Buffet
Karin Lannby	...	The Mother

Storyline

Elisabeth is very protective of her teenage brother Paul, who is injured in a snowball fight at school and has to rest in bed most of the time. The siblings are inseparable, living in the same room, fighting, playing secret games, and rarely leaving the house; though Paul's friend Gerard often stays with them. One day Elisabeth brings home Agathe to live with them also. She bears a strong resemblance to Dargelos, a schoolboy whom Paul had a crush on, and who injured him. Paul and Agathe become attracted to each other, causing Elizabeth to be very jealous.

---

Plot Keywords:

brother sister relationship | dead teen couple | gay interest | paris france | poison | 

---

Taglines:

a love story by Jean Cocteau

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French English

Release Date:

28 July 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

Les Enfants Terribles

Filming Locations:

Ermenonville, Oise, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Melville Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jean Cocteau was allowed a day of shooting, when Jean-Pierre Melville wasn't feeling up to the mark. Cocteau was to follow Melville's instructions exactly or do nothing at all. Eight shots in all, which were supposed to be of a summer's day but were done in midwinter in the rain.

---

Goofs

The amount of blood on Paul's face changes between when he is in the shop and when he is in the taxi.

---

Connections

Referenced in Metal Gear Solid (1998)

---

Soundtracks

"Concerto in A minor for 4 pianos (BWV 1065)"
by Johann Sebastian Bach
from Concerto in B minor for four violins, cello, and strings (Op. 3, No. 10; RV 580), by Antonio Vivaldi

User Reviews

Strange and at times unnerving masterpiece, French style.

It took time to build, but when things got really rolling, I felt things could not happen otherwise. The settings and actresses are truly fine. The musical score, simple and obsessive, is perfect for this almost naive plot of youth angst "avant la lettre". The final monologue of Elizabeth about "how we have to make our lives ugly, unlivable" is worth many bad French Literature we "ought to read".

While I cannot say it has any meaning, the "form" of this movie is so good one just forgets. I agree with Amazon's Tom Keogh that it may be "a harbinger of pop narcissism", I thought exactly the same. Some images are beautiful, like Liz moving in the garden with barren trees and a cloudy sky, prodding elegantly in a house that doesn't belong to her.

Doug Anderson on Amazon wrote a good summary and a great line: "the unwholesomeness of the bond is immediately apparent" "little blonde fascist versions of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton-". The thread he and another reviewer have is interesting. I pinch from there my end line: "In film the "how" is everything".