Figure 1.--The movie opens with two school chums returning home from school, collecting for a charity. They wear the uniform of their private Catholic college. Notice the similarity with the uniform worn by the boys in "Au Revoir les Enfantes". Also note the school bags.

Murmer of the Heart or Le Souffle Au Coeur is another of Louis Malle's films. Malle is also famed for Au revoir les Enfantes. A French school boy is shown in ordinary life scenes at the beginning of the film. He is diagnosed with a heart murmer and has to go to a sanotarium/spa for treatment. Clothes and school uniforms worn in the 1950s are nicely illustrated in this classic French film. Of special interest is the boys' school uniform. Most French boys did not wear school uniforms and in the 1950s smocks had begun to decline in popularity. The main character in this film went to a private French Catholic college (private secondary-level day and boarding schools). A common uniform at these schools was a white shirt, blue sweater and short pants, and white kneesocks.

Filmograohy

The title of the film in French is Le Souffle Au Coeur, which literally translates, Murmer of the Heart. This is another of Louis Malle's films. Malle is also famed for Au revoir les Enfantes. Told with humor and warmth, Murmur of the Heart is propelled by Benoit Ferreux's masterful performance as young Laurent. Almost banned by the French Moive Commission before its release, the film was ultimately nominated for an Academy Award.

Cast

We do not have much information about the cast. The main character, Laurent, was played by Ferreux Benoit. We don't know of any other films he made.

Story Line

A French school boy is shown in ordinary life scenes at the beginning of the film. He is diagnosed with a heart murmer and has to go to a sanotarium/spa for treatment. The film is a poignant, romantic account of a boy's initiation to manhood and his complex relationship with his vivacious mother. HBC considers much of this inappropriate, but the French tend to be much more open about such matters. Young Laurent Chevalier is almost ready to leave the world of childhood, discovering with a sense of wonder both the pleasure and hypocrisy of adult life. Trapped on the cusp of manhood, the bright, sensitive boy is sent to recuperate from a heart murmur in a luxurious mountain spa. One reviewer assesses the events at the sanotorium, "A witness to his confusion and fear, Laurent's mother provides a sensual expression of her love for her son as a gift to help him make a difficult transition." HBU believes that the relationship is inappropriate and actually detracts from an otherwise wonderful film. Perhaps we aew alittle prudish on such matters.

Figure 2.--Here are some scenes of the boys walking home from school in their uniforms. While English boys this age never wore white knee socks, there were worn by French, German, and other boys on the Continent. Note the patriotic red, white, and blue mug that he is using to collect money. Click on the image for another view.

Clothing

Clothes and school uniforms worn in the 1950s are nicely illustrated in this classic French film. Of special interest is the boys school uniform. Most French boys did not wear school uniforms and in the 1950s smocks had begun to decline in popularity. The main character in this film went to a private French Catholic college (private secondary-level day and boarding school). A common uniform at these schools was a white shirt, blue sweater, short pants, and white knee socks.

Garments

At the beginning of the film the boys are mostly depicted in their school uniforms. This is one of the better films illustrating the uniform commonly worn at a private Catholic college in the 1950s.

Caps

Note that the boys do not wear berets as in Au Revoir les Enfantes, Berets rapidly went out of fashion after World war II (1939-45). Rather these boys wear a kind of peaked military style cap. I'm not sure how common this was in France. German boys before World War II also wore vadet caps, but with a different style.

Shirts

All of the boys wear white shirts as part of their school uniform. One boy is seen with his shirt collar buttoned. We are not sure how common that was.

Ties

Ties were not nearly as popular for French schools boys than was the case in England. The school depicted here did not require ties.

Figure 3.--Notice the different sweater styles the boys wear. Click on the image for another view.

Sweaters

The school uniform was a long-sleeved blue sweater. Some boys have "V"-necked collars while others wear crew necks.

Pants

The school uniform was blue short pants matching the blue sweater.

Socks

The school uniform involved white knee socks. Many boys are shown, however, with their socks fallen down well below the knees.

Shoes

The boys all wear black leather shoes as part of their school uniform.

Created: September 7, 2000
Last updated: 12:39 AM 4/18/2020