Film 42: Inherit the Wind (1960)

Netflix Summary: Spencer Tracy (in an Oscar-nominated role) and Fredric March square off as opposing attorneys Henry Drummond and Matthew Harrison Brady, respectively, in this blistering courtroom drama about the famed 1925 "Scopes Monkey Trial," in which a Tennessee teacher was taken to task for teaching Darwinism in the classroom. The film also earned Oscar nods for its editing, screenplay and cinematography. Gene Kelly co-stars as a newspaper reporter.


Film Viewing Due Date: 3/2/12

400 Blows Review

girl by locker says: Our 1959 movie is The 400 Blows, a French movie by Francois Truffaut. It is his first feature film (at the age of 27) and many hail the movie as a classic masterpiece and the founding film of the French New Wave (whatever that means). We follow a boy in his early teens, Antoine, growing up in Paris with a mother and stepfather who don’t pay much attention to him. Misunderstood and labeled a troublemaker, Antoine is in on the precipice of a life of crime and we follow this throughout the whole movie.

The 400 Blows is a beautiful movie. Incredibly well-shot, touching and poignant. For that it should be watched. However, it isn’t a movie I loved, and I didn’t connect with it. It is my opinion that this is more of a guy’s movie – and not the blow ‘em up, shoot ‘em up, car chase kind of guy’s movie. Rather, the angst, the misunderstanding, the lies, the isolation, though universal, felt more in the spirit of a young boy that I had a hard time relating to. Most of the time, I didn’t understand why he didn’t try to explain the misunderstandings more.

Though not loving the movie, I still give it 4 out of 5 stars on Netflix. Why? Because of how the movie ends. Antoine ends up in the hands of social services because his parents willingly hand him over to the system. There is a scene in which Antoine is speaking with his therapist, talking about how he feels and what has happened to him over the years. It was a gut-wrenching, raw scene that was unbelievably powerful. It made the rest of the movie make sense to me, the skin stand up on my arms and bring tears to my eyes. In the extras on the DVD, I saw that this scene was completely improvisational. Truffaut gave the young actor (Jean-Pierre Leaud) some guidance. That scene made the movie for me.

Juror #3 says: The decision over which movie to watch for 1959 was between Sunset Boulevard and The 400 Blows.  I had seen both movie already and liked them equally, although they are very different types of films.  girl by locker had seen neither and was unavailable to discuss so I made an executive decision - I chose 400 Blows.  Truffault has directed several of my favorite films, Jules and Jim being near the top with 400 Blows just steps behind.  He is masterful with the camera, allowing it to act as an extension of his imagination in ways I've seldom recognized in others.  400 Blows is a semi-autobiographical film for Truffault, who co-wrote the film.  The story follows Antoine, a twelve year old boy attending school in Paris and dealing with dysfunctional parents.  He is led to mischief by a friend and shows a strong lack of concern over consequence.  He has used up all his parents patience and is eventually sent to a juvenile facility where he performs a daring escape resulting in one of the most famous, and extremely long tracking shots of all-time.  The meaning of the film's end is up for discussion but its profound nature is not.  To me the screenplay is average at best.  But directing doesn't get any better.  Truffault is a true master and anyone wishing to understand the patience associated with the New Wave movement should get their hands on his work.  I should mention that the DVD contains some fantastic interviews with Truffault which lend fantastic insight into the mind of a passionate movie lover.  A man who watched over 3,000 films by age 35 and was an influential film critic by age 20.  There are too many great moments in this film not to rate it highly.  I give it 4/5 stars on Netflix.