#5/#185: TRUFFAUT, François: The 400 Blows [1959]

TRUFFAUT, François (France)
The 400 Blows [1959]/Antoine And Colette [1962]
Spine #5/#185
DVD/Blu-ray

François Truffaut's first feature is also his most personal. Told through the eyes of Truffaut's cinematic counterpart, Antoine Doinel (Jean-Pierre Léaud), The 400 Blows (Les quatre cents coups) sensitively re-creates the trials of Truffaut's own difficult childhood, unsentimentally portraying aloof parents, oppressive teachers, and petty crime. The film marked Truffaut's passage from leading critic to trailblazing auteur of the French New Wave.

99 minutes

Black & White
Monaural
in French

2:35:1 aspect ratio

Criterion Release 2003/2008

Director/Writers

Original story by François Truffaut.

Adaptation by Marcel Moussey and Truffaut.

Dialogue by Moussey.

Truffaut was 27 when he directed The 400 Blows.

Other Truffaut films in the Collection:

#315: Shoot The Piano Player (1960)
#281: Jules And Jim (1962)
#749: The Soft Skin (1964)
#186: Stolen Kisses (1968)
#187: Bed And Board (1970)
#769: Day For Night (1973)
#188: Love On The Run (1979)
#462: The Last Metro (1980)

The Film

Aa

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

#5: Eight-page wraparound featuring an essay by Annette Insdorf.

#185: 72-page booklet (for the entire series):

• Titles Considered for The 400 Blows
• Letter to Léaud’s father
• The 400 Blows: First Treatment
• Nothing Is Invented (short interview with Truffaut)

Commentary

1. By cinema professor Brian Stonehill.

2. By Truffaut’s lifelong friend, Robert Lachenay.

Rare audition footage

Of Léaud, Patrick Auffay, and Richard Kanayan.

Newsreel footage

Of Léaud in Cannes for the showing of The 400 Blows.

Excerpt

From a French TV program with Truffaut discussing his youth, critical writings, and the origins of Antoine Doinel in The 400 Blows and Antoine and Colette.

Television interview

With Truffaut about the global financial reception of The 400 Blows and his own critical impression of the film.

Theatrical trailer

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

99

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