The 400 Blows
- Jean -Pierre Léaud Antoine Doinel
- Claire Maurier: Gilberte Doinel
- Albert Rémy: Julien Doinel, stepfather
- Patrick Auffay: René Bigeye
- Guy Decomble: French teacher
- Georges Flamant: Bigeye
- Yvonne Claudie: mother of René Bigeye
- Robert Beauvais: Director of the School
- Pierre Repp: English teacher
- Jacques Monod: Commissioner
- Claude Mansard: Coroner
- Henri Virlojeux: night-watchman
- Richard Kanaian: Abbou
- Jeanne Moreau: Young woman with doggy
- Jean -Claude Brialy: passerby
They kissed and they beat him ( original French title Les Quatre Cents Coups, dt as: The four hundred blows ) is a movie directed by François Truffaut.
Action
The story traces the path of the young Antoine, who grows up in poverty and loveless relationships with his mother and stepfather. Egged on by classmates is conspicuous by Antoine pranks in school. When he the typewriter of his stepfather stolen together with a classmate, to make them in a stolen money, but not where it is going and is discovered when trying to return the typewriter unnoticed, passed him his parents to the police. Later they consent, Antoine accommodate in a home for maladjusted. Antoine finally escapes from the cruelty of the facility.
Background
The film They kissed and they beat him is Truffaut's first feature film and founded the Nouvelle Vague. The story about the boy (played by Jean -Pierre Léaud ) who grows up in an ignorant environment, is also the beginning of the Antoine Doinel cycle, the Truffaut Antoine and Colette, Stolen Kisses, table and bed and love on the run via the period of the next twenty years left to set.
The original title refers to a French phrase to, according to which a person makes 400 strokes before it is reasonable ( fair les quatre cents coups - - in about: repel the horns ).
When the film was released in 1959, missing seven scenes with a total length of seven minutes that Truffaut in 1967 re-inserted into the plant.
As cameo Truffaut can be seen even in a small supporting role as fairground man.
Reviews
" The first feature film by the then 27-year old Francois Truffaut founded by his stylistic intelligence and sincerity the glory of the New Wave. A stylistic and directorial wonderful film that reflects the deeply humane spirit of its creator. "
" Truffaut directed his first film with verve and commitment. This has seduced him to some exaggerations, but the film also ensures spontaneity and authenticity. "
Tribute in The Simpsons
In an episode of the animated series The Simpsons, there is an allusion to They kissed and they beat him. Nelson Muntz proceeds as the main character Antoine Doinel at the end of the film along the sea.
Awards
- François Truffaut and Marcel Moussy were nominated for the screenplay for the film award Oscar.
- François Truffaut won the Best Director Award and the OCIC Award at the International Film Festival of Cannes 1959.
- New York Film Critics Circle Award - Best Foreign Language Film (1959 )
- Association Française de la Critique de Cinéma - Prix Méliès (1960 )
- Bodil - Best European film ( 1960)