The 400 Blows

A 1979 Japanese B5 film flyer for a special screening of François Truffaut’s The 400 Blows (1959), presented as part of the “映画と講演” (Film and Talk) programme at Yamaha Hall in Tokyo.

François Truffaut’s The 400 Blows was released in 1959, but this particular flyer belongs to a later context: the 1979 “映画と講演 / '60–'80 ナウ・プレゼンツ” programme at Tokyo’s Yamaha Hall. It is neither a flyer from the film’s 1959 French premiere nor its 1960 Japanese theatrical debut.

The front features a black-and-white still of Antoine Doinel, played by Jean-Pierre Léaud, with both hands raised. Alongside it, a striking black-and-red column lists six event dates between September 28 and October 17, with speakers including Akiyuki Nosaka, Osugi, and Yoshio Shirai.

The reverse changes to monochrome blue, arranging Japanese film commentary, a story synopsis, a director introduction, and cast and crew credits into compact editorial sections. Together, the two sides document a specific Tokyo screening-and-talk programme rather than the film’s original theatrical release.

• Film: The 400 Blows (Les Quatre Cents Coups, 1959)
• Director: François Truffaut
• Lead cast: Jean-Pierre Léaud, Claire Maurier, Albert Rémy, Guy Decomble, Georges Flamant
• Country: France
• Japanese title: 大人は判ってくれない
• Object: Japanese screening-program flyer
• Event: 映画と講演 / '60–'80 ナウ・プレゼンツ, Yamaha Hall, Tokyo
• Flyer issue year: 1979
• Format: B5, portrait, single sheet, double-sided
• Printing: Black-and-white film still with black-and-red programme typography on the front; monochrome blue printing on the reverse
• Language: Primarily Japanese, with the French film title on the front
• Quantity: One double-sided flyer; the two photographs show its front and reverse

No condition grade has been assigned. Please examine the photographs of both sides for the visible condition of the paper, including any handling marks or edge wear.