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IMDbPro

The 400 Blows

Original title: Les quatre cents coups
  • 19591959
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
117K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
5,990
201
The 400 Blows (1959)
In celebration of the 60th anniversary of 'The 400 Blows' (Les Quatre Cents Coups), we take a look back at François Truffaut's critically acclaimed film, starring Jean-Pierre Léaud, Albert Rémy, and Claire Maurier.
Play clip1:06
'The 400 Blows' | Anniversary Mashup
1 Video
99+ Photos
CrimeDrama
A young boy, left without attention, delves into a life of petty crime.A young boy, left without attention, delves into a life of petty crime.A young boy, left without attention, delves into a life of petty crime.
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
117K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
5,990
201
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • François Truffaut
    • Writers
      • François Truffaut(scenario)
      • Marcel Moussy(adaptation)
    • Stars
      • Jean-Pierre Léaud
      • Albert Rémy
      • Claire Maurier
    Top credits
    • Director
      • François Truffaut
    • Writers
      • François Truffaut(scenario)
      • Marcel Moussy(adaptation)
    • Stars
      • Jean-Pierre Léaud
      • Albert Rémy
      • Claire Maurier
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 235User reviews
    • 181Critic reviews
    Top rated movie #239
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 10 wins & 7 nominations total

    Videos1

    'The 400 Blows' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:06
    'The 400 Blows' | Anniversary Mashup

    Photos105

    Jean-Pierre Léaud in The 400 Blows (1959)
    Jean-Pierre Léaud in The 400 Blows (1959)
    Jean-Pierre Léaud, Claire Maurier, and Albert Rémy in The 400 Blows (1959)
    Jean-Pierre Léaud in The 400 Blows (1959)
    Jean-Pierre Léaud in The 400 Blows (1959)
    Jean-Pierre Léaud in The 400 Blows (1959)
    The 400 Blows (1959)
    The 400 Blows (1959)
    The 400 Blows (1959)
    The 400 Blows (1959)
    1 sheet movie poster app. 27" x 40
    The 400 Blows (1959)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jean-Pierre Léaud
    Jean-Pierre Léaud
    • Antoine Doinel
    Albert Rémy
    Albert Rémy
    • Julien Doinel - le beau-père d'Antoine
    Claire Maurier
    • Gilberte Doinel - la mère d'Antoine
    Guy Decomble
    • 'Petite Feuille' - l'instituteur
    Georges Flamant
    Georges Flamant
    • Mr. Bigey - le père de René
    Patrick Auffay
    • René Bigey
    Daniel Couturier
    • Bertrand Mauricet - un élève
    François Nocher
    • Un délinquant
    Richard Kanayan
    • Un élève
    Renaud Fontanarosa
    • Un élève
    Michel Girard
    • Un élève
    Serge Moati
    • Un élève
    • (as Henry Moati)
    Bernard Abbou
    • Un élève
    Jean-François Bergouignan
    • Un enfant
    Michel Lesignor
    • Un enfant
    Luc Andrieux
    • Le professeur de gym
    Robert Beauvais
    • Le directeur de l'école
    Bouchon
    • Director
      • François Truffaut
    • Writers
      • François Truffaut(scenario) (adaptation)
      • Marcel Moussy(adaptation) (dialogue)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      All the young actors who unsuccessfully auditioned for the role of Antoine were used in the classroom scenes.
    • Goofs
      (at around 1h 39 mins) At the very end right as Antoine reaches the water's edge, the shadows of the crew can be seen on the sand and water.
    • Quotes

      Antoine Doinel: Dad, I need some money.

      Julien Doinel: What?

      Antoine Doinel: I just need 1,000 francs.

      Julien Doinel: Which means you're hoping for 500, meaning you really need 300, so here's a hundred. All right, 500. But your mother should pay for that.

    • Connections
      Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Une vague nouvelle (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Les Quatre Cents Coups
      Music by Jean Constantin

    User reviews235

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Deserved Truffaut Classic Benefits Significantly from Criterion's New DVD Package
    As the seminal work of the French New Wave, the 1959 directorial debut of 27-year old Francois Truffaut has such a vaunted reputation that the final film is bound to disappoint. However, the pristine print that comes with the new Criterion Collection DVD really makes me realize what a brave and emotionally resonant film he made ostensibly about his own troubled adolescence. It's worth seeing twice - once for the film itself and a second time to listen to the newly recorded commentary by Truffaut's childhood friend Robert Lachenay (the true-life inspiration for Rene in the film). Speaking in French but subtitled in English, he provides insights into the story and context of the film that no film scholar or even production associate could possibly provide. As a point of comparison, listen to the by-the-numbers commentary by film scholar Brian Stonehill (recorded back in 1992), which is thoughtful and well researched but devoid of the human factor.

    The film's title comes from a French colloquialism that translates into "raising hell", an appropriate reference since the story focuses on a thirteen-year old hellion named Antoine, living in a poor section of Paris and neglected by parents downright arrogant in their dysfunctional nature. Antoine consequently lives a street urchin's life as he lies to people in authority - his parents, his teachers, and the police - since he admits rather sadly that the truth doesn't make any difference. Truffaut tracks Antoine's life through a series of dispiriting episodes that ultimately lead him to be sent away to a reformatory after he gets caught returning a stolen typewriter and his mother and stepfather tire of their responsibility over him. To Truffaut's immense credit, the film feels stark and naturalistic without resorting to dramatic manipulation, and he finds the ideal Antoine in Jean-Pierre Leaud, who brings out the confusion, angst and wandering attention of his character in realistic terms. He is especially impressive in an apparently improvised scene where he is interviewed by the school authorities about why his life has come to this. It is heartbreaking to see how bleak his life becomes, yet Leaud imbues the incorrigible, often intolerable side of Antoine with fervor.

    There are several interesting extras included with the 2006 DVD package starting with two separate interviews with Truffaut, the first a year after the film's release discussing he film's impact and the second five years later when we see the filmmaker in a more reflective mood about his cinematic influences. Leaud is featured in 16mm screen test footage where his naturally ebullient personality emerges and then after the 1959 Cannes Film Festival where puberty has apparently kicked in and then in 1965 as a comparatively reserved twenty-year old. The screen test of Richard Kanayan (who has a minor role as a schoolmate) is amusing for his Satchmo-inspired rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching In" and his eerie resemblance to Fantasy Island's Tattoo, Herve Villechaize. Be forewarned that the film is relentlessly downbeat, but Truffaut's emotional investment and consummate abilities as a filmmaker, even at this stage of his career, make this essential viewing.
    helpful•30
    12
    • EUyeshima
    • May 20, 2006

    FAQ1

    • Why is the movie named "The 400 Blows"?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 16, 1959 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • France
    • Languages
      • French
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Les quatre cents coups
    • Filming locations
      • Avenue Frochot, Paris 9, Paris, France
    • Production companies
      • Les Films du Carrosse
      • Sédif Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $509
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $11,206
      • Apr 25, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $127,244
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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