The 400 Blows (1959) Les quatre cents coups (original title)

Director:

François Truffaut

Writers:

François Truffaut (scenario)
Marcel Moussy (adaptation) ...
(more)

Release Date:

16 November 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Angel faces hell-bent for violence.

Plot:

Intensely touching story of a misunderstood young adolescent who left without attention, delves into a life of petty crime.

Plot Keywords:

Boy | School | Run | Pigalle Paris | Mise En Scene

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 6 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Jean-Pierre Léaud	...	Antoine Doinel
Claire Maurier	...	Gilberte Doinel - la mère d'Antoine
Albert Rémy	...	Julien Doinel
Guy Decomble	...	'Petite Feuille', the French teacher
Georges Flamant	...	Mr. Bigey
Patrick Auffay	...	René
Daniel Couturier	...	Betrand Mauricet
François Nocher	...	Un enfant / Child
Richard Kanayan	...	Un enfant / Child
Renaud Fontanarosa	...	Un enfant / Child
Michel Girard	...	Un enfant / Child
Serge Moati	...	Un enfant / Child (as Henry Moati)
Bernard Abbou	...	Un enfant / Child
Jean-François Bergouignan	...	Un enfant / Child
Michel Lesignor	...	Un enfant / Child
Luc Andrieux	...	Le professeur de gym
Robert Beauvais	...	Director of the school
Bouchon
Christian Brocard
Yvonne Claudie	...	Mme Bigey
Marius Laurey	...	L'inspecteur Cabanel
Claude Mansard	...	Examining Magistrate
Jacques Monod	...	Commissioner
Pierre Repp	...	The English Teacher
Henri Virlojeux	...	Night watchman (as Henri Virlogeux)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jean-Claude Brialy	...	Man in Street
Jeanne Moreau	...	Woman with dog (as Mademoiselle Jeanne Moreau)
Philippe de Broca	...	Man in Funfair (uncredited)
Jacques Demy	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Jean Douchet	...	The Lover (uncredited)
Marianne Girard	...	(uncredited)
Simone Jolivet	...	(uncredited)
Laure Paillette	...	(uncredited)
François Truffaut	...	Man in Funfair (uncredited)

Directed by
François Truffaut

Writing credits
François Truffaut		(scenario)
Marcel Moussy		(adaptation) (as M. Moussy) &
François Truffaut		(adaptation) (as F. Truffaut)
Marcel Moussy		(dialogue)

Produced by
François Truffaut	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Jean Constantin

Cinematography by
Henri Decaë

Film Editing by
Marie-Josèphe Yoyotte

Set Decoration by
Bernard Evein

Production Management
Georges Charlot	....	production manager
Robert Lachenay	....	assistant unit manager
Jean Lavie	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Bober	....	second assistant director
Philippe de Broca	....	assistant director
Francis Cognany	....	second assistant director
Alain Jeannel	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Raymond Lemoigne	....	property master (as Raymond Le Moigne)

Sound Department
Jean Labussière	....	sound assistant
Jean-Claude Marchetti	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
André Dino	....	still photographer
Alain Levent	....	assistant camera
Jean Rabier	....	camera operator

Editorial Department
Michèle de Possel	....	assistant editor
Cécile Decugis	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Luce Deuss	....	production secretary
Roland Nonin	....	production administrator
Jacqueline Parey	....	script girl

Thanks
André Bazin	....	dedicatee
Jean-Claude Brialy	....	thanks
Fernand Deligny	....	thanks
Alex Joffé	....	thanks
Jacques Josse	....	thanks
Suzanne Lipinska	....	thanks
Claire Mafféi	....	thanks
Jeanne Moreau	....	thanks (as Mademoiselle Jeanne Moreau)
Claude Vermorel	....	thanks
Claude Véga	....	thanks
Annette Wademant	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Les Films du Carrosse
• Sédif Productions

Distributors

• Cocinor (1959) (France) (theatrical)
• MK2 Diffusion (2001) (France) (theatrical) (new print)
• MK2 Éditions (2001) (France) (DVD)
• MK2 Éditions (2007) (France) (DVD) (blu-ray)
• Curzon Film Distributors (1959) (UK) (theatrical)
• Europa Filmverleih (1959) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Gala Film Distributors (1985) (UK) (theatrical)
• New Star (2011) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Rosebud (????) (Greece) (theatrical) (theatrical re-release)
• Zenith International Films (1959) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• AV Channel (2003) (Australia) (DVD)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2005) (Canada) (DVD)
• Altomedia. Co. Ltd. (????) (Korea) (DVD)
• Atlantic Film (2007) (Sweden) (DVD)
• BIM Distribuzione (2004) (Italy) (DVD)
• ClassicLine (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Fox Lorber (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Home Vision Entertainment (HVE) (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
• Panorama Distributions (2004) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
• Panorama Distributions (2011) (Hong Kong) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2003) (Australia) (DVD)
• Zima Entertainment (2006) (Mexico) (DVD)

Other Companies

• L'Ecole Technique de Photographie et de Cinématographie  thanks
• S.I.M.O.  auditorium

Also Known As:

"Les quatre cents coups" - France (original title)
"The Four Hundred Blows" - Canada (English title), UK, USA

Runtime:

99 min | Spain:92 min

Country:

France

Language:

French | English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Finland:K-8 (1966) | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 (original rating) | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (re-rating) (2001) | UK:PG (video rating) (1993) | West Germany:16 | Germany:12 | France:U | South Korea:All (2003) | Sweden:11 (re-rating) (1966) | USA:Not Rated | Finland:K-7 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Avenue Frochot, Paris 9, Paris, France

Company:

Les Films du Carrosse

Trivia:

When Antoine's father finally nodded to the cinema business, realizing it is Rivette's "Paris nous appartient", he said: "Si c'est un complot..." And a 'complot' (conspiracy), really, is the central issue of the Rivette's film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When carrying the typewriter, Antoine's hair is mussed, but it is in place when he puts on his hat.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Petite Feuille:Doinel, bring me that. Indeed! Go to the corner!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Y Tu Mamá También (2001)

Soundtrack:

La machine à ecrire

Great Filmmaking by a Great Filmmaker

The Four Hundred Blows is the semi-autobiographical story of Antoine Doinel, a boy trapped in a life of contemtptuous authority who turns to outward rebellion. Truffaut shows his mastery of the cinema in this, his freshman attempt.

The film is perfectly cast with Dionel relaying neutral facial expressions for the majority of the film. The boy, although not necessarily evoking sympathy from the audience, definitely evokes empathy. He is a pathetic character forced into his position by his teacher and his almost uncaring mother.

Throughout the film, Truffaut hints at the possibility of a happy life for the protagonist, but just as soon as the ideal is given to us, it is taken away. The mood shifts in the film are fabulously orchestrated through contrasting scenes, music, and even acting. From the opening sequence through the final, enigmatic still shot, the movie is a masterpiece of both French and world cinema. It is a must see.