The Wild Child (1970)
L'enfant sauvage (original title)Reference View | Change View
- G
- 1h 23min
- Biography, Drama
- 11 Sep 1970 (USA)
- Movie
In a French forest in 1798, a child is found who cannot walk, speak, read or write. A doctor becomes interested in the child and patiently attempts to civilize him.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 5 wins & 5 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
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Jean-Pierre Cargol | ... |
Victor - Wild Boy of Aveyron
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Françoise Seigner | ... |
Madame Guérin
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| François Truffaut | ... |
Dr. Jean Itard
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| Paul Villé | ... |
Rémy - The Old Man
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| Pierre Fabre | ... |
Orderly at Institute
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| Jean Dasté | ... |
Professor Philippe Pinel
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Robert Cambourakis | ... |
Aveyron Countryman (uncredited)
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Tounet Cargol | ... |
Boy at Farm (uncredited)
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Eric Dolbert | ... |
Boy at Farm (uncredited)
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Frédérique Dolbert | ... |
Girl at Farm (uncredited)
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Jean Gruault | ... |
Visitor at Institute (uncredited)
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Dominique Levert | ... |
Child at Farm (uncredited)
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René Levert | ... |
Police Official in Rodez (uncredited)
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Gitt Magrini | ... |
Aveyron Countrywoman (uncredited)
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Jean Mandaroux | ... |
Dr. Gruault - Itard's Doctor (uncredited)
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Annie Miller | ... |
Madame Lémeri (uncredited)
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| Claude Miller | ... |
Monsieur Lémeri (uncredited)
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| Nathan Miller | ... |
Baby Lémeri (uncredited)
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| Guillaume Schiffman | ... |
Boy at Farm (uncredited)
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Mathieu Schiffman | ... |
Mathieu Lémeri (uncredited)
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| Jean-François Stévenin | ... |
Aveyron Countryman (uncredited)
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Misse Theaudiere | ... |
(uncredited)
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Eva Truffaut | ... |
Girl at Farm (uncredited)
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Laura Truffaut | ... |
Girl at Farm (uncredited)
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Directed by
| François Truffaut | ||
Written by
| François Truffaut | ... | (scenario, adaptation and dialogue) & |
| Jean Gruault | ... | (scenario, adaptation and dialogue) |
| Jean Itard | ... | (based upon the memoir and report "Victor de l'Aveyron") |
Cinematography by
| Néstor Almendros | ... | (as Nestor Almendros) |
Editing by
| Agnès Guillemot | ||
Editorial Department
| Yann Dedet | ... | assistant editor |
Set Decoration by
| Jean Mandaroux | ||
Costume Design by
| Gitt Magrini | ||
Makeup Department
| Nicole Félix | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
| Marcel Berbert | ... | production manager |
| Claude Miller | ... | unit manager (as Claude Miler) |
| Roland Thénot | ... | unit manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Suzanne Schiffman | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Jean-Claude Dolbert | ... | property master |
Sound Department
| René Levert | ... | sound |
| Alex Pront | ... | sound mixer |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Philippe Théaudière | ... | assistant camera |
| Pierre Zucca | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Antoine Duhamel | ... | conductor |
| André Saint-Clivier | ... | musician: mandolin |
| Michel Sanvoisin | ... | musician: flute |
| Antonio Vivaldi | ... | music by |
Script and Continuity Department
| Christine Pellé | ... | script girl |
Additional Crew
| Armand Barbault | ... | production assistant |
Thanks
| Jean-Pierre Léaud | ... | dedicatee |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Les Artistes Associés (1970) (France) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1970) (United States) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- United Artists (1970) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- United Artists (1970) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1970) (Norway) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1971) (Argentina) (theatrical) (as Artistas Unidos)
- The Film Desk (2008) (United States) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Carlotta Films (2022) (France) (theatrical) (re-release) (restored version)
- Neaniko Plano (2004) (Greece) (theatrical)
- United Artists Corporation (1980) (India) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1971) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
- Antenne 2 (A2) (1976) (France) (tv)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
- MGM Networks (2009) (India) (tv)
- Pidax Film (2021) (Germany) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
1798. In a forest, some countrymen catch a wild child who can not walk, speak, read nor write. Doctor Itard is interested by the child, and starts to educate him. Everybody thinks he will fail, but with a lot of love and patience, he manages to obtain results and the child continues with normal development. This is based on true story. Written by Yepok |
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| Taglines | At last an adult film to which you can take your children. See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Truffaut remained true to Dr. Itard's written accounts in most respects. A few variations are: (1) Victor was not stark naked when first captured; he had the shreds of a shirt around his neck. (2) Victor's hair would have been much longer, because he was indifferent to hygiene or how he looked. (3) Jean Itard was merely a young medical student, while the film suggests that he was on an equal basis with Pinel. (4) Madame Guerin became almost a mother to Victor, always attending to him, whereas the film suggests that she merely helped to train him and to clean up after him. (5) Itard would rub Victor's back to relax and comfort him, but then had to worry about sexual responses. Victor also often wet his bed, but Itard never punished him; he decided to allow Victor to learn whether he preferred to lie in a wet bed or to get up to relieve himself. These problems are not shown. (6) In the scene in which Victor throws a tantrum about learning the alphabet, his and Dr. Itard's responses were different than are shown in the film. Real-life Victor bit his bedsheets and began to throw hot coals around the house before falling to the ground and writhing/screaming/kicking; and Itard (Truffaut) did not merely put him into the closet for a few moments. Itard admits [in translation] that he actually "violently threw open the window of his room, which was on the fifth floor overlooking some boulders directly below ... and grabbing him forcibly by the hips, I held him out of the window, his head facing directly down toward the bottom of the chasm. After some seconds, I drew him in again. He was pale, covered with a cold sweat ... I made him gather up all the [alphabet] cards and replace them all. This was done very slowly ... but at least without impatience." Viewers may thank Truffaut for choosing the lesser of two evil punishments! (7) Finally, Dr. Itard took care of Victor for 5 years; in 1806, Victor moved into Madame Guerin's house and stayed there for the rest of his life, with the French Government paying for his care. It is believed that he died there, without ever marrying. See more » |
| Goofs | In the US subtitles, the opening says that this is a true story that happened in 1978. It should have read 1798. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Une vague nouvelle (1999). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Concerto in C Major, RV 443 See more » |
| Quotes |
[last lines]
Le Dr Jean Itard: I'm glad that you came home. Do you understand? This is your home. You're no longer a wild boy, even if you're not yet a man. Victor, you're an extraordinary young man with great expectations. Later, we'll resume our lessons. See more » |