The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (1976)

A lone 13-year-old resorts to murder to protect her haven.

Director:

Nicolas Gessner

Writers:

Laird Koenig (novel), Laird Koenig (screenplay)

Stars:

Jodie Foster, Martin Sheen, Alexis Smith

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jodie Foster	...	Rynn
Martin Sheen	...	Frank Hallet
Alexis Smith	...	Mrs. Hallet
Mort Shuman	...	Miglioriti
Scott Jacoby	...	Mario
Dorothy Davis	...	Town Hall Clerk
Clesson Goodhue	...	Bank Manager
Hubert Noël	...	Bank Clerk (as Hubert Noel)
Jacques Famery	...	Bank Clerk
Mary Morter	...	Teller
Julie Wildman	...	Teller

Storyline

Rynn Jacobs is a thirteen-year-old girl who lives in a secluded house that she and her father have rented in a quiet seaside community. But whenever anybody from the town tries to satisfy their curiosity, Rynn's father is never around, and it seems as if the girl is all alone. Rynn's resourcefulness is put to the test as several people try to find out what she might be hiding, including the snobby landlady and her sleazy son.

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Plot Keywords:

girl | father | murder | landlady | alone | 

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Taglines:

She was only a little girl. She lived in a great big house... all alone. Where is her mother? Where is her father? Where are all the people who went to visit her? What is her unspeakable secret? Everyone who knows is dead.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

MGM Official Facebook

Country:

Canada France

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 January 1977 (France)

Also Known As:

Das Mädchen am Ende der Straße

Filming Locations:

Astral Film, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 1,100,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Braun Entertainment Group, Carnelian Productions, Filmel

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A significant role for 'Mort Shuman', who played Miglioriti. He is best known as half of the celebrated songwriting team of Doc Pomus-Mort Shuman. Their million seller hit list includes "Teenager In Love", "Save The Last Dance For Me", "This Magic Moment" and "Viva Las Vegas".

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Goofs

Frank Hallet tells Rynn that she put more milk in her cup than in his when she makes them tea, but this isn't even close to true, as she barely put any milk in her cup at all.

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Quotes

Rynn: I think I should warn you that the police are watching our house right this very minute, Mr. Hallet.

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Crazy Credits

Rynn sits staring at Frank Hallet through the entire ending credits as the fire burns behind her.

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Connections

References Mary Poppins (1964)

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Soundtracks

"Piano Concerto No. 1 E-Minor"
Music by Frédéric Chopin
Performed by Claudio Arrau with London Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Eliahu Inbal

User Reviews

Intriguing, macabre and brilliantly acted - a must see film!

Wow, where has this little flick been? The Little Girl who Lives Down the Lane is an intriguing mystery, an intense character portrait and a dark, brooding thriller all rolled into one rather odd little package - and on a personal note, I liked it a lot! The film has gained some notoriety (although not as much as it would have if it was more seen) for the scene involving a thirteen year old Jodie Foster undressing - but that never offsets the point of the film, and besides that; it's hardly like the scene has just been thrown in to satisfy the perverts in the audience. Furthermore, the most shocking scene in the film involves a hamster with no naked teenage girl present! Anyway, The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane is about a young girl, living down a quiet lane with her poet father. Only nobody has ever this man, and it isn't long before nosey neighbours - such as the perverted Frank Hallet and his enquiring, power mad mother comes sniffing round, eager to upset her life. She's not quick to let them know the truth, however, and along with her boyfriend; a crippled young magician from the neighbourhood, she is forced to take steps to preserve her independence.

The most obvious theme running through the film stems from loneliness, and how being brought up on your own will ultimately leave you a different person to if things such as schools are allowed to take charge. This is interesting; as it preaches the idea of social conditioning makes up the person more than most like to admit. The film is often touted as being a horror, but this is incorrect. While the film does feature several macabre instances, and a foreboding and mysterious atmosphere that is present throughout the run time; there's very little in the way of actual horror. The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane is much more of a drama-come-mystery than a horror film. The film is probably most notable for it's lead performance. Jodie Foster had already impressed in 1976 with her role in Martin Scorsese's hit film, Taxi Driver - but here she is far better. Despite her young age, Foster commands the screen and despite being a child, her maturity and acting talent shine through to make this a more complete performance than most actresses manage in a lifetime.

On the whole, this film was once hard to come by; but with the new DVD currently doing the rounds, the film should be seen by everyone. The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane fits snugly alongside the rest of the classics of the seventies, and the fact that it has only just resurfaced is one of cinema's biggest injustices. Highly recommended viewing!