Director's Comments

The film, my first effort, was first shown at the cinema Studio 28, on 21st November 1962 in rue Tholozé in Montmartre, the oldest cinema in Paris, whose interior was designed by Jean Cocteau. It was an exciting time to be in Paris, and with the 'new wave' splashing onto cinema screens, everything seemed possible, even the Roulleau brothers, who owned the cinema agreed generously to a showing. The French love of the cinema then, and now, is very infectious and encouraging….

The film was made in the summer holidays of 1962 by three of us who were then all at I.D.H.E.C. the French film institute (now FEMIS) - the cameraman Jean-Paul Cornu, Sara Bennett the editor (and co-producer) and myself as director, writer and producer. The participants all gave their services for nothing, three of them were still at acting school, among them Patrice Laffont, who became a well-known television personality in 'Chiffres et lettres' many years later. Also Jean Mitry, the French film historian (who also taught us at I.D.H.E.C.) happened to live nearby in Montmartre and played a small role, along with Patrick Bureau, who later became a television director.

'At the premiere Peter Lennon can be seen far left, and Jean Mitry discussing the film with the director centre'

The cinema was packed that night as France-Soir, the Parisian evening paper, ran a half page on the screening (see Press), but despite all our efforts only one member of the press turned up, Peter Lennon, from the Guardian. Gallantly he gave us an enthusiastic half-page article the following day, which brought the film to people's attention; among them were the Boulting Brothers, who subsequently helped finance and distribute my next film 'THE SIX-SIDED TRIANGLE'.

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