As the previous poster mentioned Truffaut hated this movie so Jean Dalannoy had to be doing something right. Delannoy was, of course, making fine films when Truffaut was still throwing his toys out of his pram and insulting his betters so that in itself is a benchmark. I doubt if anyone would be tempted to rank this effort amongst the all-time great French films but nevertheless it's a solid story - by Jean Aurenche who could write a better screenplay than Truffaut with one vowel behind his back and whom Truffaut also despised, natch; have a sour grape, Frankie - top-billing Jean Gabin as a humane judge who becomes involved in the lives of several 'bad' boys, some viewers will see the occasional nod to Dead End and/or Boys Town but better those than the 400 Yawns.
Review of The Little Rebels
