The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (1976)

13-year-old Rynn Jacobs lives alone in a high-class Quebec small town, but unknown to the neighbors, she is leading a secret and dangerous life.

Director:

Nicolas Gessner (as Nicholas Gessner)

Writers:

Laird Koenig (screenplay), Laird Koenig (novel)

Stars:

Jodie Foster, Martin Sheen, Alexis Smith

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jodie Foster	...	Rynn Jacobs
Martin Sheen	...	Frank Hallet
Alexis Smith	...	Cora Hallet
Mort Shuman	...	Ron Miglioriti
Scott Jacoby	...	Mario Podesta
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

In a little seaside town, the thirteen year-old Rynn Jacobs is celebrating her birthday alone on a Halloween night since her father is not at home. They have arrived from England recently and leased the house for three years from Mrs. Cora Hallet. Out of the blue, Mrs. Hallet's pervert son Frank Hallet visits Rynn and sexually harasses her. Then his mother visits also the house and asks for Rynn's father. The girl tells that he traveled to New York. Mrs. Hallet tells that she needs her jelly glasses that are stored in the cellar and Rynn asks the impolite woman to go. Later she returns and opens the cellar door despite Rynn's refusal. However, she has an accident with the support of the cellar door that hits her head and she dies. Rynn tries to get rid of Mrs. Hallet's car to hide the evidence that she had visited her, but she has trouble to start the car and the aspirant magician Mario Podesta helps her. Rynn immediately trust Mario and discloses her secret to him. What is Rynn's ...

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Plot Keywords:

child murderer | killing a pet | teenage romance | long title | eight word title | 

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Taglines:

Ask her no questions, she'll tell you no lies. Ask her too many and somebody dies.

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Zev Braun: Uncredited, the producer as a man at the TD Bank wearing a white collared shirt and beige jacket.

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Goofs

After Mario buries something in the rain he finishes tamping down the dirt, which is completely level with the surrounding. Filling a hole back in creates a mound, especially in the rain, and even more so with something added to the hole.

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Quotes

Frank Hallet: You know how to survive, don't you?
Rynn Jacobs: I thought I did.

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Crazy Credits

The names of the cast and crew listed in the end credits are all mixed case (i.e. upper case first letter of each name, the rest lower case), except Creative Consultant Richard C. Meyer, whose name is presented in all upper case.

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Alternate Versions

For the overseas release, a shot of Rynn nude from behind was allegedly added in the sequence where she and Mario are upstairs in her bedroom.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Catalina Caper (1990)

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Soundtracks

"The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane (Finale)
Written and Performed by Christian Gaubert Et Son Orchestre

User Reviews

sadness and willpower!

This is a wonderful movie!You can reach to the "little girl" and feel her solitude and, at times, you wish you were as strong as she is!The story in itself is great but the way it was directed, the set, the actors make you feel you are a part of it! There is no way to explain that story:you just have to discover it and you will understand,through the movie, the poetry of that "little girl"'s life who is not a "little girl",just someone who had to take care of her life from an early age surrounded by characters who just see a "bohemian child"from divorced parents in a little town where the so called low classed people have to be nobody in front of the single rich family! There is so much to tell and I don't want to spoil that movie!It is just great:you just have to feel!

Details

Official Sites:

MGM Official Facebook

Country:

Canada France

Language:

English Hebrew

Release Date:

26 January 1977 (France)

Also Known As:

The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane

Filming Locations:

Kennebunkport, Maine, USA

Box Office

Budget:

CAD1,100,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Braun Entertainment Group, Carnelian Productions, Filmel

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1