The 400 Blows (aka: Le quatre cents coups)

Spotlight on Movie Mothers... Monster Mothers

The 400 Blows is François Truffaut's first film, and also the first film in the Antoine Doinel series. It was voted #29 on Empire's list of 100 Best Films of World Cinema, 2010.


This semi-autobiographical character study tells of a young boy Antoine Doinel (played by Jean-Pierre Léaud), who turns to a life of crime after suffering neglect from his parents, and harsh criticism from his teacher.

French new wave (la nouvelle vague) cinema

'The 400 Blows' is a defining film of the French new wave (la nouvelle vague) movement displaying many of its techniques, such as:

• Use of a hand-held camera - used effectively as the camera scours the Doinel apartment, and the narrow staircase leading to the apartment
• Location shooting
• Panning and tracking shots 
• Ambiguous ending (New wave's most defining feature)

Antoine's relationship with his mother

Mrs. Doinel is cold, bossy, negative and degrading towards Antoine. Mrs. Doinel often complains Antoine is a wild child, and she can't control him. And one stage she says "He gets on my nerves". But is it because of her behaviour, that Antoine appears to be misunderstood.  Antoine does not have his own bedroom and is forced to sleep in a sleeping bag on the couch. 
During the film, Antoine wags school with a friend. The next day when he returns to school, his teacher asks him why he was not at school. Antoine replies it was because his mother died. This is significant, because deep inside Antoine feels his mother is dead, evident by the nature of their relationship. In one scene, Antoine says "I could tell my mother didn't like me. She was always yelling at me for no reason." Later in the film we find out the man married to his mother is not his biological father. Antoine was an unplanned pregnancy, and his mother had wanted to have an abortion, however Antoine's grandmother would not let her. It is resentment of never wanting Antoine which leads to her treatment of Antoine.
In one scene, Antoine finds out his mother is having an affair with another man. Shortly after, Antoine's mother behaves very different towards him, bathing him and smothering him with kisses, as if he were a newborn. She also encourages him to sleep in her bed, as he would be "more comfortable there". This leaves the viewer wondering if the change in behavour is out of maternal instinct, or if it is because she is scared Antoine may tell Mr. Doinel she is having an affair.

**Spoiler alert** Ambiguous ending 

A key feature of new wave was including an ambiguous ending. This technique was designed to provoke thought and discussion after the film. At the conclusion of the film, we can't help wondering what's next for Antoine. Will he get away, or will he be caught? Unfortunately we never find out, as the film's sequel continues several years later, and does not provide closure to this film.

Love Crazy (1941)

Spotlight on Movie Mothers... Monster Mothers

Love Crazy is an MGM screwball comedy telling the story of a married couple, Steve and Susan Ireland (played by William Powell & Myrna Loy), whose marriage is on the verge of being broken up by Susan's interfering and disapproving mother.

While Steve is returning from an errand, he bumps into his former girlfriend, Kimble Grayson (played by Gail Patrick). Steve attempts to hide this meeting from Susan, however she soon finds out, and in a jealous rage files for divorce.

To hold off the divorce, Steve pretends to have a nervous breakdown, and pleads insanity. Steve does such a great job, he declared insane by the lunacy commission and committed to a mental institution.

To further complicate things, Susan meets and is romanced by archery champion Ward Willoughby (played by Jack Carson).

The significance of the mother-in-law

In this case, we are dealing with a monster mother-in-law, Mrs. Cooper (played by Florence Bates). Although Mrs. Cooper is only featured in several scenes, she is extremely significant to the story, acting as a catalyst for most of the film's events.
Firstly, Mrs. Cooper invites herself over during Steve and Susan's fourth anniversary dinner, as is tempted by a hidden agenda to sabotage the couple's evening. She also brings a gift of a very ugly rug, which Steve and Susan are forced to display near the front door. During her visit, she asks Steve to mail her insurance premium for her. This event is significant, as it is during this errand that Steve bumps into his former flame.
Throughout the rest of the film, Mrs. Cooper attempts to fill Susan's head with negative comments about Steve.


Concluding thoughts
Of all the classic movie pairings, my favourite leading couple would have be William Powell and Myrna Loy. Powell & Loy made marriage life on the screen sophisticated and fun. Love Crazy was the 10th of 14 films the duo made together, and is also my personal favourite.

DVD releases

'Love Crazy' has not been released on DVD in Australia. It is shown occasionally on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) Australia on Foxtel.


It has been released on DVD in the US, as part of the Myrna Loy and William Powell TCM Spotlight Collection.

Harold & Maude (1971)

Harold and Maude (1971)

Spotlight on Movie Mothers... Monster Mothers

This film is available to watch on YouTube - refer to link below this post. All YouTube links current as of 12 May 2012.

Harold and Maude is a romantic comedy with a difference. What makes it so unique? It tells the love story of a 20 year old and a 79 year old... Yes, you read that right.


The film was a commercial flop for Paramount Pictures when it was first released. Interestingly enough, it is based on a Broadway play, which closed after only 4 performances. Like a fine wine, it's popularity has increased over the years with it now being considered a cult classic.


The American Film Institute have ranked this film #45 in their list of 100 Funniest Movies of all Time. It was also selected for preservation by the National Film Registry in 1997 for being "cultrally, historcally or aesthetically signficant"


Harold Chasen (played by Bud Cort) is a 20 year old obsessed with death. He gatecrashes random funerals, drives a hearse and states a number of "fake suicides".


Maude Chardin (played by Ruth Gordon) is a 79 year old swinger and holocaust surviver, who is obsessed with living life to the fullest. Maude also enjoys gatecrashing random funerals, which is where she and Harold meet.

Musical Highlights

The film's soundtrack features songs by Cat Stevens (now known as Yusuf Islam). While I am not a fan of Cat Stevens, the included songs, 2 of which are new, are important to the film's storyline, and enhance the viewing experience.
The musical highlight for me is "If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out" (see link below).

Harold's relationship with his mother

Despite living in the same house, Harold has a very detached relationship with his rich, snobby mother. To get her attention, Harold stages a number of "fake suicide attempts", ranging from hanging himself, self mutilation, drowning, shooting himself, just to name a few.

The video on the right contains a montage of Harold fake suicide attempts.

Harold's mother feels Harold is now at the age where he should be getting married, and without his consent registers him into a computer dating service, which she says "screens out the fat and the ugly, so it is obviously a firm of high standards". One by one, Harold attempts to horrify each dating candidate with staged morbid acts of self mutilation.


Freud's oedipus complex holds that boys have a subconscious desire to sexually possess their mother, and kill their fathers. Is this story the oedipus complex to the extreme? Is Harold's detached relationship with his mother the catalyst for his obsession with death, and his attraction to Maude?


After finding out Harold has proposed to Maude, his mother sends him to a psychologist who says: "A very common neurosis, particularly in this society whereby the male child subconsciously wishes to sleep with his mother. Of course, what puzzles me, Harold, is that you want to sleep with your grandmother".


Harold is also sent to his priest, who has the funniest line in the film: "I would 
be remiss in my duty if I did not tell you the idea of intercourse and the fact of your firm, young body co-mingling with the withered flesh, sagging breast and flabby buttocks makes me want to vomit".

Watch this film on YouTube

The complete film is currently available on YouTube to watch (linked below).

DVD Releases
This film was available on DVD in Australia, but is currently out of print.
A Special Edition DVD is being released by the Criterion Collection in June 2012 as Spine #608.

May 2012 Spotlight on Movie Mothers

As this Sunday is Mother's Day, I thought it would be appropriate for my movie Spotlight theme for May to be Movie Mothers. I have made a selection of films I will aim to watch over the next few weeks, and comment on them in my blog. The films will fall into the following categories:


Monster Mothers (the mothers from hell we love to hate)

- Harold and Maude (1971)

- All Fall Down (1962)

- The 400 Blows (Les Quatre Cents Coups) (1959)

- Mommy Dearest (1981)

- Love Crazy (1941)

Mothers Dearest (caring mothers we love, often sacrificing their lives/happiness for their children)
- Little Women (1933) (to coincide with Katharine Hepburn's birthday)- Please Don’t Eat the Daisies (1960)- Mildred Pierce (1945)- Three Daring Daughters (1948) (to coincide with Jeanette MacDonald's birthday)- Pocketful of Miracles (1961)- A Ticklish Affair (1963)　My next post will be a blog about 'Harold and Maude' (1971). Voted #45 funniest film of all time by the American Film Institute, Harold & Maude' is a very unusual and unlikely romantic comedy.