Search - The 400 Blows - Criterion Collection on DVD


The 400 Blows - Criterion Collection
The 400 Blows - Criterion Collection
Actors: Jean-Pierre Léaud, Albert Rémy, Claire Maurier, Guy Decomble, Georges Flamant
Director: François Truffaut
Genres: Indie & Art House, Drama, Music Video & Concerts
UR     2006     1hr 39min

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 B...  more »

     

Larger Image

Movie Details

Actors: Jean-Pierre Léaud, Albert Rémy, Claire Maurier, Guy Decomble, Georges Flamant
Director: François Truffaut
Creators: Henri Decaë, François Truffaut, Marie-Josèphe Yoyotte, Marcel Moussy
Genres: Indie & Art House, Drama, Music Video & Concerts
Sub-Genres: Indie & Art House, Drama, Music Artists, Classic Rock
Studio: Criterion
Format: DVD - Black and White,Widescreen - Subtitled
DVD Release Date: 05/09/2006
Original Release Date: 11/16/1959
Theatrical Release Date: 11/16/1959
Release Year: 2006
Run Time: 1hr 39min
Screens: Black and White,Widescreen
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Total Copies: 0
Members Wishing: 22
Edition: Criterion Collection
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Languages: English, French
Subtitles: English
See Also:

Similar Movies

The Seventh Seal
Criterion Collection
Directors: Ingmar Bergman, Marie Nyreröd
   NR   2009   1hr 37min
8 1/2
Single Disc Edition
Director: Federico Fellini
   NR   2002   2hr 18min
Breathless - Criterion Collection
Director: Jean-Luc Godard
   UR   2007   1hr 30min
Last Year at Marienbad
Criterion Collection
Director: Alain Resnais
5
   UR   2009   1hr 34min
The Last Metro The Criterion Collection
Blu-ray
Director: François Truffaut
5
   UR   2009   2hr 11min
The Bicycle Thief
Director: Vittorio De Sica
   UR   1998   1hr 33min
Pierrot le fou
Criterion Collection
Director: Jean-Luc Godard
6
   UR   2009   1hr 50min
Tie Me Up Tie Me Down
Blu-ray + DVD
Director: Pedro Almodóvar
3
   NC-17   2014   1hr 41min
All That Jazz
Blu-ray + DVD
Director: Bob Fosse
3
   R   2014   2hr 3min
Vengeance Is Mine
Blu-ray
Director: Shôhei Imamura
2
   UR   2014   2hr 20min
Love Streams
Blu-ray + DVD
Director: John Cassavetes
?
   PG-13   2014   2hr 21min

Similarly Requested DVDs

Hard Candy
Director: David Slade
   R   2006   1hr 44min
   
This is Spinal Tap
Special Edition
Director: Rob Reiner
   R   2000   1hr 22min
   
The Shawshank Redemption
Director: Frank Darabont
   R   1999   2hr 22min
   
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Director: John Hughes
   PG-13   1999   1hr 43min
   
Ghost World
Director: Terry Zwigoff
   R   2002   1hr 51min
   
 

Movie Reviews

400 Blows
Steven Hellerstedt | 05/12/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."
A True-to-the-Bones-and-Heart Modern Day Dickensian Fable
M. Tsang | NYC | 02/12/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)

"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!)"
Get this one only if you are not interested in all the Doine
Doctor Trance | MA, United States | 05/19/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."
A classic, heartfelt coming of age story
Zev Bazarov | S. FL | 12/13/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"In Francois Truffaut's debut, award winning film, he paints visually the pain and joy of childhood, through a semi-autobiographical account of a 13 year old boy living in France. Antoine, lives with his mother and father in an apartment, on minimum finance. He gets into trouble at school, time after time, and at home his parents punish him, but at heart, he is a good kid. He decides to run away, but his parents find him, and they begin to treat him nicer. But when he gets suspended from school, he runs away for good. He begins stealing, and he gets caught. After he stays at a special home for juvenile delinquents, he escapes and his spirit prevails. This story is very moving, and entertaining. You get pulled into the young boy's life, and can relate with him. After you see how he keeps hope and prevails, it creates a warm feeling, and inspires you. The direction is perfect, and the director won the Best Director at Cannes Film Festival. I highly recommend those who wish to watch a fun, entertaining tale of hope and faith in the face of seemingly endless problems. 5 stars."