Jean-Pierre Leaud retro @ French Institute, NYC

And yes, thanks xyzzz, he's actually really funny in Out1 and it's quite a performance to sustain through twelve hours. Again, Rivette definitely makes use of and critiques Léaud's persona in Out1 - there's a buried criticism of Truffaut there, I think!

Ah, sorry, I see from yr post, mark s, that the Godard review was in Cahiers. so not the thing Brody quotes. A few pages later on he does note that Godard was the only Cahiers critic to give four stars to Hiroshima Mon Amour, 400 Blows and Rio Bravo in their regular new film poll.

The Hillier is of course on Archive.org

The Godard review ends: "To sum up, what shall I say? This: Les 400 Coups will be a film signed Frankness. Rapidity. Art. Novelty. Cinematograph. Originality. Impertinence. Seriousness. Tragedy. Renovation. Ubu-Roi. Fantasy. Ferocity. Affection. Universality. Tenderness."

I wonder if Paul Morley knows this review.

yup that's the one!

Cinematograph!

Translation by Tom Milne

Quality Morley reference.

I love Leaud in Julien Duvivier's "Boulevard" which appeared right after "400 Blows". His Pigalle-street-kid act is allowed full rein and it's an endearing performance.

iirc Leaud gives more 'sober' performances in La Maman et la Putain, Godard's The Joy of Learning, maybe (only seen bits of it) in Out 1.

Léaud is mute through a large segment of Out 1, which may be a relief to some viewers (though he gesticulates a lot). He is heartbreaking (without necessarily avoiding callowness) in Two English Girls, Truffaut's masterpiece.

(i believe this was the only truffaut film that godard had any time for)

When Truffaut was ill with a brain tumour, Godard's comment was "that's what happens when you read so many bad books".