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Special Features
- Commentary by film scholar Brian Stonehill
- Commentary by Truffaut's lifelong friend Robert Lachenay
- Rare audition footage of young actors Jean-Pierre Leaud, Patrick Auffay, and Richard Kanayan
- Newsreel footage of Leaud at the film’s Cannes premiere
- Excerpts from French TV interview with Truffaut discussing his youth, critical writings and the origins of Antoine Doinel
- TV interview with Truffaut discussing the global financial reception of the film and his own critical impressions
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The knowing yet innocent face of Jean-Pierre Leaud, the 14-year-old star of The 400 Blows, is the heartbreaking core of Francois Truffaut's most intimate film. As Antoine Doinel, Leaud begins his career as director Truffaut's alter-ego, a young boy neglected by his mother and stepfather who, to cover his absence at school, tells a lie that leads him to run away from home and end up in reform school. There's nothing remarkable or surprising about the plot; the power of this film comes from how completely it draws you into Antoine's life. Antoine is a vivid, natural presence, one of the most compelling collaborations between a writer/director and an actor. The movie seems to capture him as he lives. Antoine endures his parent's indifference, humiliations at school, deprivation and juvenile delinquency--yet the movie never feels pitying or condescending, as if it were trying to rub your nose in Antoine's suffering. On the contrary: His resilience is what grabs you, his refusal to be broken down as he struggles towards a more adult understanding of the world. Truffaut and Leaud made many excellent films together (Day for Night, Two English Girls), including further chapters in Antoine's life (Bed and Board, Stolen Kisses), but none were quite as simple, rich, and devastatingly potent as The 400 Blows. (The title, incidentally, refers not to abuse or anything sexual, but is a French idiom for a wild and unruly youth or "raising hell.") --Bret Fetzer
Product Description
Francois Truffaut's first and most personal feature film, told from the perspective of the director's lifelong cinematic counterpart, Antoine Doinel. Sensitively recreating the trials of Truffaut's own childhood, The 400 Blows unsentimentally portrays aloof parents, oppressive teachers, petty crime, and a friendship that would last a lifetime. Available after a long absence as a single-disc release.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
91 of 103 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I've spent decades avoiding THE 400 BLOWS, afraid it was either dark and brooding, or a documentation of child abuse (physical and/or emotional), or an angry and vindictive assault on the authors' of Francois Truffaut's traumatic childhood.
I shouldn't have worried. THE 400 BLOWS is a gentle and compassionate movie. It isn't overwhelmed by its anger, although a few characters, particularly the coming-of-age hero's mother and his school teacher, aren't terribly sympathetic. Being new to THE 400 BLOWS, I found the commentary by Premiere magazine film critic Glen Kenny especially helpful in understanding French New Wave cinema in general and Truffaut in particular. By the way, according to Kenny "400 blows" refers to a French colloquialism similar to the American "paint the town red." It means to give oneself over to every type of excess, and raise a little heck in the process.
I shouldn't have worried. THE 400 BLOWS is a gentle and compassionate movie. It isn't overwhelmed by its anger, although a few characters, particularly the coming-of-age hero's mother and his school teacher, aren't terribly sympathetic. Being new to THE 400 BLOWS, I found the commentary by Premiere magazine film critic Glen Kenny especially helpful in understanding French New Wave cinema in general and Truffaut in particular. By the way, according to Kenny "400 blows" refers to a French colloquialism similar to the American "paint the town red." It means to give oneself over to every type of excess, and raise a little heck in the process.
36 of 38 people found the following review helpful
By Philip B
Format:DVD
The most heart-felt movie I've ever seen is a powerful mix of sharp-eye, hardhitting autobiographical remembrance of a nearly bruised childhood and a celebration of the wide-open, spontaneous and lyrical qualities of cinema to capture pointed truths of family, school and street lives as seen through the curiously haunted eyes of one Antoine Doinel, a modern-day Dickensian hero in a decidedly unglamours Paris, searching, often wrongheadly, for love and acceptance while, almost against himself, challenging the authorial rules imposed on children growing up in conformist post-WWII France. The film's tone is one of anguished bittersweetness and quiet defiance, counterpointed by bursts of joyful freedom and naughty prank playings as shared by many in their pre-adolescenthood. Doniel's friendship with the well-off but neglected Rene is also among the most moving portraits of childhood friendship ever. An unforgettable portrait, a cutting social study, a New Wave classic and Truffaut's best, but most importantly a timeless and univsersal "true" story. And yes, the last freeze, when it comes, is a stunner. Gosh, I just love it! (P.S., this relatively small and quiet masterpiece also happens to be the all-time favorite film of John Woo, imagine!)
34 of 39 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Get this one only if you are not interested in all the Doinel films.
May 18, 2006
Format:DVD
However, if you are a fan of this entire film series by Truffaut, then you should spring for the Adventures of Antoine Doinel boxed set. It comes with all the extras found on this disc, plus a bonus disc which features excerpts from a 1961 documentary on Truffaut, which touches on this film, and a promotional art gallery for this film. Neither of these bonus features are found on this disc, nor is the bonus short film, Antoine and Colette, which is on the 400 Blows' disc in the boxed set. Great if you only want this movie, but I'd pay the extra dough as it's well worth it to have the entire Criterion boxed set, which is loaded with extras covering all the other films.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
The ending
I thought the big deal about 400 Blows was the ending, the first use of freeze-frame. Now it's used all the time, too much.
Published 7 days ago by siriusdavid
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Movie
I like this movie even though it was a class assignment. It's was very easy and convenient for me to rent and this and watch on my own time.
Published 2 months ago by Co D. Nguyen
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not bad
These French films are pretty cool; this one in particular had a good story behind it and kept my attention. Not a bad movie.
Published 3 months ago by jake srt
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Excellent Film Worthy to Represent the French New Wave Movement Now...
Rebelling against the big studio system of film-making where big money and "selling out" was necessary in order to get a film made a group of French film lovers and critics decide... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Frederick Baptist
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great movie experience
Great movie experience.
Others should invest in this wonderful Gem!
Fun for academic purposes as well as the simple pleasure of enjoying movie magic!
Others should invest in this wonderful Gem!
Fun for academic purposes as well as the simple pleasure of enjoying movie magic!
Published 5 months ago by Govinda Angulo
5.0 out of 5 stars
400 Blows
French New Wave cinema was defined by introspection. This film is that. Post-war Paris was a place of great change and tradition colliding. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mitchell Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Worthy Classic
Excellent movie that lives up to its reputation. Rich in emotion, subtle in its symbolism and novel technique, meticulously captured, yet never sentimental or didactic.
Published 8 months ago by David N. Moolten
4.0 out of 5 stars
Early French New Wave gem
Francois Truffaut makes his directorial debut with this excellent semi-autobiographical film about a troubled boy growing up in Paris. Read more
Published 12 months ago by M. Oleson
1.0 out of 5 stars
Another boring, exasperating director autobiographies
European directors assume that everyone wants to know how they got started to become such creative geniuses. Read more
Published 12 months ago by rwx
4.0 out of 5 stars
Despite my dislike of central character, simply too many good things...
Antoine Doniel is a juvenile delinquent. He disrespects his teachers, lies even when the truth might suit him, deceives his parents, cuts class and is generally a trouble-maker. Read more
Published 15 months ago by RMurray847
