Film Review
Chiens perdus sans collier is director Jean Delannoy's rare attempt to tackle
real social issues, although he is noticeably less successful than in his other films.
This is in spite of the fact that the film is competently made and features some creditable
acting performances. The film looks good, it makes entertaining viewing, but it
just doesn't ring true.
The film's evident artificiality made it a sitting target for the reactionary film critics
of the time, most notably François Truffaut (who would develop an intense hostility
towards Delannoy in later years).
Chiens perdus sans collier is certainly a good
example of the uninspired kind of film which French cinema churned out in the 1950s,
although it is not in itself necessarily a bad film.
© James Travers 2001
The above content is owned by frenchfilms.org and must not be copied.
Next Jean Delannoy film:
Marie-Antoinette reine de France (1956)
Film Synopsis
With no relatives of his own to take care of him, little Alain Robert ends
up being placed in the care of a farming family in the country. They
bully and abuse him; when they are away he sets fire to their barn
and runs away. He is picked up by the authorities and taken before
Judge Lamy, who has him sent to an observation centre for juvenile delinquents.
It is here that Alain becomes friends with an older boy, Francis Lanoux,
who was taken into care when he was found living in abject squalor with his
alcoholic grandparents. Francis has no intention of remaining a prisoner
in the centre. He intends to run away so that he can join his girlfriend
Sylvette, who, unbeknown to him, is pregnant with his child. Not having
heard from Sylvette since he was taken into custody (all of her letters have
been intercepted), Francis breaks out of the centre with Alain. They
go their separate ways - Francis setting off to find his girlfriend whilst
Alain goes in search of his missing parents. Both will end up being
cruelly used by Fate...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by frenchfilms.org and must not be copied.
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Film Credits
- Director: Jean Delannoy
- Script: Gilbert Cesbron (novel),
Jean Aurenche,
François Boyer,
Pierre Bost,
Jean Delannoy
- Cinematographer: Pierre Montazel
- Music: Paul Misraki
- Cast: Jean Gabin (Le juge Julien Lamy),
Robert Dalban (Joseph, le funambule),
Jean-Jacques Delbo (Un joueur de belote),
Dora Doll (Madame Lecarnoy),
Jane Marken (La déléguée),
Claire Olivier (Madame Noël),
Renée Passeur (La grand-mère de Francis),
Raphaël Patorni (Le substitut),
Jean d'Yd (Le grand-père de Francis),
Anne Doat (Sylvette Villain),
Serge Lecointe (Francis Lanoux),
Jacques Moulières (Gérard Lecarnoy),
Jimmy Urbain (Alain Robert),
Georges Aminel (L'avocat),
Josette Arno (La jeune prostituée),
Louis Bugette (Un inspecteur),
Véronique Deschamps (L'assistante sociale),
Gérard Fallec (Un gosse),
Jean Hébey (La Cravate),
Guy Henry (Un inspecteur)
- Country: France / Italy
- Language: French
- Support: Black and White
- Runtime: 98 min
- Aka: The Little Rebels