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The 400 Blows - Criterion Collection
 
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The 400 Blows - Criterion Collection (1959)

Starring: Jean-Pierre Léaud, Albert Rémy Director: François Truffaut Rating: Unrated Format: DVD
4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (96 customer reviews)
List Price: $29.95
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Frequently Bought Together

The 400 Blows - Criterion Collection + Wages of Fear [Blu-ray] - Criterion Collection + The Seventh Seal (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]
Total List Price: $109.85
Price For All Three: $60.47

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Product Details

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential video
Francois Truffaut's first feature was this 1959 portrait of Antoine Doinel (Jean-Pierre Léaud), a boy who turns to petty crime in the face of neglect at home and hard times at a reform school. Somewhat autobiographical for its director, the film helped usher in the heady spirit of the French New Wave, and introduced the Doinel character, who became a fixture in Truffaut's movies over the years. Poignant, exhilarating, and fun (there's a parade of cameo appearances from some of the essential icons and directors from the movement), this film is an important classic. --Tom Keogh

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.

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Customer Reviews

96 Reviews
5 star:
 (67)
4 star:
 (18)
3 star:
 (6)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:
 (3)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (96 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
56 of 62 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars 400 Blows, May 11, 2004
This review is from: The 400 Blows (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.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A True-to-the-Bones-and-Heart Modern Day Dickensian Fable, February 12, 2000
This review is from: The 400 Blows (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!)
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21 of 24 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
By Doctor Trance (MA, United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)      
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars The 400 Blows - Blu-ray Info
Version: U.S.A / Criterion / Region A
MPEG-4 AVC BD-50 / AACS
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Running time: 1:40:02
Movie size: 29,136,844,800 bytes
Disc size:... Read more
Published 13 days ago by LGANS316

5.0 out of 5 stars Blu-ray: An absolutely awesome release on Blu-ray but now I hope Criterion releases the Adventure of Antoine Doinel on Blu...
In 1959, Francois Truffaut released a semibiographical film about his life with "the 4oo blows" (Les quatre cents coups). Read more
Published 21 days ago by Dennis A. Amith (kndy)

5.0 out of 5 stars On the Beach
This film is a cinematic masterpiece, in that it's images last a lifetime. The story centers on a 12 year old boy, Antoine, growing up in Paris, and tracks the stages downward as... Read more
Published 29 days ago by nepos

4.0 out of 5 stars A Deep, Personal and Engaging Look at Childhood
I love this movie on so many levels but the the best is truly the elementary level. Maybe, I identify with our main character and his exploits all too well. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Roland of Gilead

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Blu-Ray version of a true classic
This review is for the Blu-Ray edition.

The 400 Blows is directed by Francois Truffaut. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Biggus Dickus

2.0 out of 5 stars One of the worst movie endings ever, I mean................ever
Just like most French movies, it just ends, there is no ending, not even a wind down. I guess film was expensive back in those days.
Published 2 months ago by Georgyo07

5.0 out of 5 stars Blu-ray info
I own Criterion's latest DVD release (from 2006) and now the Blu-ray edition of The 400 Blows. For anyone who would like to know about the differences between the two, other than... Read more
Published 2 months ago by James

5.0 out of 5 stars A film that will literally blow you away...
In all my movie watching and movie reviewing I tend to praise a lot of work. As you glance over my past reviews (if you so chose to ever do so) you will see a lot of `five-star'... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Andrew Ellington

5.0 out of 5 stars 4 stars out of 4
The Bottom Line:

One of those movies that's every bit as good as everyone says it is, The 400 Blows is a powerful and engaging coming of age story with a wonderful... Read more
Published 4 months ago by One-Line Film Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Truffaut's Masterpiece!
OK -- it's not a film for everyone. First, it's in black-and-white. Second, it's subtitled. And third...it's French! Read more
Published 6 months ago by J. C. Anderson

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