Les enfants terribles (1950)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Jean-Pierre Melville
(more)

Writers:

Jean Cocteau (novel)
Jean Cocteau (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

28 July 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Elisabeth is very protective of her teenage brother Paul, who is injured in a snowball fight at school and has to rest in bed most of the time...

Plot Keywords:

Brother Sister Relationship | Gay Interest | Paris | Dead Teen Couple | Suicide

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Nicole Stéphane	...	Elisabeth
Edouard Dermithe	...	Paul
Renée Cosima	...	Dargelos / Agathe
Jacques Bernard	...	Gerard
Melvyn Martin	...	Michael
Maria Cyliakus	...	The Mother
Jean-Marie Robain	...	Headmaster
Maurice Revel	...	Doctor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Adeline Aucoc	...	Mariette
Jean Cocteau	...	Narrator (voice)
Rachel Devirys
Roger Gaillard	...	Gerard's Uncle
Emile Mathys	...	Vice Principal
Hélène Rémy

Directed by
Jean-Pierre Melville
Jean Cocteau		(uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jean Cocteau		novel
Jean Cocteau		screenplay
Jean-Pierre Melville		writer

Produced by
Jean-Pierre Melville	....	producer

Cinematography by
Henri Decaë

Film Editing by
Monique Bonnot

Production Design by
Jean-Pierre Melville

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Claude Pinoteau	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Jacques Carrère	....	sound mixer
Jacques Gallois	....	sound

Production Companies

• Melville Productions

Distributors

• Gaumont (1950) (France) (theatrical) (as Gaumont Distribution)
• Arthur Mayer-Edward Kingsley (1952) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• ARTE (2001) (Germany) (TV) (subtitled)
• Criterion Collection, The (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Homescreen (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Moskwood Media (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Silver Cine (1993) (West Germany) (theatrical)

Also Known As:

Jean Cocteau's Les enfants terribles (France) (complete title)
The Strange Ones
Copiii teribili (Romania) [ro]
Die schrecklichen Kinder (West Germany) [de]
I ragazzi terribili (Italy) [it]
Los niños terribles (Spain) [es]

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

France

Language:

French | English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:18 (nf) | UK:12 (2000) | UK:X (1952) | UK:X (1976) (re-rating) | Spain:18

Filming Locations:

Ermenonville, Oise, France

Company:

Melville Productions

Trivia:

Jean Cocteau was allowed a day of shooting, when Jean-Pierre Melville wasn't feeling up to the mark. Cocteau was to follow Melville's instructions exactly or do nothing at all. Eight shots in all, which were supposed to be of a summer's day but were done in midwinter in the rain.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes (2004) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Concerto in A minor for 4 pianos (BWV 1065)

Pretty good early Melville

Before he made the Bob Le Flambeur, the "Grandfather of the New Wave" made this film in collaboration with Cocteau. The cinematography in this film is pretty good, and Melville does a good job at replicating the feel of a Cocteau film. This is perhaps Melville's most "Un-Melville" film. There's no hardened men or bank robbers to be had here. The portrait of a sister/brother relationship is well-done and believable, and easily holds your attention the entire film.

The imagery is great, particularly towards the ending and the shot of the dead mother. It's almost dream-like! With this film, and Bob, it's easy to see why Melville was such and inspiration to future New Wave directors such as Godard, Truffaut, Chabrol, etc. Highly recommended, especially to Cocteau/Melville fans!