Four Hundred Blows, The (1959) - (Movie Clip) Better To Have Freedom

Four Hundred Blows, The (1959) -- (Movie Clip) No Recess For Three Days

Opening scenes from director Francois Truffaut's pioneering feature debut, Jean-Pierre Leaud as protagonist "Antoine Doinel," Guy Decomble the dreaded instructor, in what is often cited as the definitive French New Wave film, The Four Hundred Blows, 1959.

Four Hundred Blows, The (1959) -- (Movie Clip) The Doctor Warned Her

Home alone after school and very much on his own, young Jean-Pierre Leaud as "Antoine Doinel," joined by his not overly concerned mother (Claire Maurier), her first appearance in director Francois Truffaut's debut, the New Wave landmark, The Four Hundred Blows, 1959.

Four Hundred Blows, The (1959) -- (Movie Clip) I Never Saw The Guy Before

Parisian schoolmates skipping class, Antoine Doinel (Jean-Pierre Leaud) and buddy Rene (Patrick Auffay), to their regret crossing paths with Mme. Doinel (Claire Maurier), trouble brewing in director Francois Truffaut's acknowledged New Wave masterpiece, The Four Hundred Blows, 1959.

Francois Truffaut -- (Movie Promo) Friday Night Spotight, July 2013

New York Magazine chief critic David Edelstein is the host for TCM's Friday Night Spotlight presentation of the films of Francois Truffaut, starting at 8pm ET every Friday in July.