Maps of Movies
The 400 Blows (1959)
Where The 400 Blows says it takes place, and where it was really shot.
The Paris streets of a boy who runs away, and a seaside ending filmed in Normandy
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Scenes and places
The opening credits drive toward the Eiffel Tower (1959)
Before we meet Antoine, the camera glides through the streets of western Paris toward the Eiffel Tower. The city is the first character of the film.
Set in Streets of western Paris toward the Eiffel Tower — The title sequence travels through western Paris streets, ending at the Champ de Mars. Google Maps · Apple Maps
The Champ de Mars is the park at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.
Filmed at Champ de Mars — Where the credit sequence ends, after passing Place d'Iéna, Avenue du Président-Wilson and Quai Branly. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Antoine's cramped family apartment (1959)
Antoine lives in a small apartment with a mother and stepfather who misunderstand him. Home is where he is scolded and where he keeps escaping from.
Set in The Doinel family apartment, Paris — The flat where Antoine lives with his mother and stepfather. Google Maps · Apple Maps
The exterior and interior were filmed in two different parts of Paris.
Filmed at Place Gustave-Toudouze, Paris 9th — Exterior shots in front of the Doinel home, at the corner of Rue Henry-Monnier and Rue Clauzel. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Filmed at Rue Marcadet, Paris 18th — Scenes inside the parents' apartment; only the street is recorded. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The gym class running through the streets (1959)
A teacher leads a line of schoolboys running through the city. Antoine slips away from the group.
Set in Left Bank streets, Paris — Antoine's school class runs through city streets for physical education. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Rue d'Assas and Rue de Vaugirard run through the Left Bank near the Luxembourg Garden.
Filmed at Rue d'Assas, Paris — Left Bank street of the gym-class scene, together with Rue de Vaugirard. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Filmed at Rue de Vaugirard, Paris — Second Left Bank street of the gym-class scene. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The Rotor ride (1959)
Skipping school, Antoine and his friend spend the day at a funfair. In the spinning Rotor, the gravity pins everyone to the wall.
Set in A funfair — Antoine rides the Rotor, a spinning cylinder ride, in a funfair scene.
A spinning-drum funfair ride; the sources do not say where the scene was shot.
Place de Clichy (1959)
On a street, Antoine spots his mother kissing a man who is not her husband. He says nothing, but the sight changes how he sees home.
Set in Place de Clichy — The square where Antoine sees his mother with another man; the family also goes to the cinema. Google Maps · Apple Maps
A large Paris square at the border of the 8th, 9th, 17th and 18th arrondissements, with the Gaumont-Palace cinema on its side.
Filmed at Place de Clichy — The scene of the mother's kiss with her lover. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Filmed at Gaumont-Palace, Place de Clichy — The cinema facade seen when the family goes out for an evening. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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René's apartment (1959)
René is the friend Antoine runs to when home becomes impossible. His flat is the place where the boys plot and hide.
Set in René's apartment, Paris — The home of Antoine's best friend. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Avenue Frochot is a quiet private street near Pigalle.
Filmed at Avenue Frochot, Paris 9th — Exterior of René's building. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Filmed at Rue Fontaine, Paris 9th — Interior, in an apartment belonging to Claude Vermorel. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Washing his face in the fountain (1959)
On the run, Antoine washes his face in a public fountain before going on. It is a quiet moment on his own in the city.
Set in Église de la Trinité, Paris — A fountain scene in front of the church where Antoine washes his face. Google Maps · Apple Maps
La Trinité is a church from the 19th century on Place d'Estienne-d'Orves.
Filmed at Place d'Estienne-d'Orves, Paris 9th — The square in front of La Trinité where the fountain scene was filmed. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Returning the typewriter (1959)
Antoine tries to sell a stolen typewriter, fails, and carries it back to the office. He is caught while trying to return it.
Set in Stepfather's office, Paris — The stepfather's workplace, where Antoine took a typewriter. Google Maps · Apple Maps
The street was renamed Rue de l'Amiral-Hamelin in 2003; the film's source calls it Rue Hamelin.
Filmed at Rue de l'Amiral-Hamelin, Paris 16th — Offices of the company of Truffaut's own stepfather, where the typewriter scene was shot. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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A night in the cell (1959)
The stepfather hands Antoine over to the police. He spends the night in a cell with thieves and prostitutes.
Set in Police station and cell — Antoine's night in custody.
The plot summary names the police station but the sources give no location for it.
The observation center for troubled boys (1959)
Antoine is sent to an observation center for troubled boys. A psychologist there tries to find out why he is unhappy.
Set in Observation center for troubled youths — A center for troubled youths near the seashore.
In the story the center is by the sea; the two Wikipedia articles name different filming places.
Filmed at Honfleur, Normandy — English Wikipedia: the reform school scenes were filmed in this coastal town. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Filmed at Moulin d'Andé, near Saint-Pierre-du-Vauvray — French Wikipedia: the observation center scenes were filmed at this Seine-side property. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The last scene by the sea (1959)
The last scene is Antoine's meeting with the sea, which he has always wanted to see.
Set in The sea — The film's closing scene takes place at the seashore.
The final shot of the film is a freeze-frame.
Filmed at Villers-sur-Mer, Calvados — Where the final beach scene was filmed. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Characters
- Antoine Doinel — A young boy growing up in Paris who is misunderstood by his parents and teacher.
- René — Antoine's friend, with whom he skips school.
- Antoine's mother — Antoine's mother.
- Antoine's stepfather — Antoine's stepfather, whose workplace Antoine steals from.