Gloomy and without concessions, this film definitely won't make you happier after watching it, but it's so well made you will probably get into the plot, even with the slow pace and naif styling common in 50's French cinema.

Of course Gabin is a "good guy", tired, tough, but ultimately fair. Even if he's constantly showing he's tired of the job, being badly paid, quite impatient, etc. Needlessly, he steals the movie. The young stars don't disappoint. Maybe Francis is a bit too slick for the age, being sort of a natural leader who never misses a cue. Alain's ingenuity is believable, and that's quite a feat for a child actor. Sylvette is also right on track as the "beautiful working class bitter heroine". The prostitute step mum's treatment is also an interesting character, given she's never given moral lessons or shown "what happens to those people", unlike other films of the epoch. Finally, as usual, no "accompanying music" and a "minimalist" in the sense of austere décor aid for this film's oppressive feeling you get while watching it.

IMDb's pro reviewer "Dumnteil" is accurate as usual when comparing it favourably with the way more famous "400 coups". Enjoy!

French director Jean Delannoy has made 40 feature films in his long as well as illustrious career.He is best known for his film "La Symphonie Pastorale" based on the book by famous French writer André Gide.However,"The little rebels" is one of his important films which deserves a wider audience.This film is about some juvenile delinquents whose boring lives change for good when they come into contact with a kind yet practical judge.Superstar of French cinema,Jean Gabin plays the judge's role with firm conviction.In an important scene,when he punishes a young criminal,one of his colleagues says that this boy would end up hating you like other boys before him.His nonchalant reply is that I am being paid to do this type of work. 'Chiens Perdus Sans Collier' is based on a best selling novel by Gilbert Chesbon which was published in 1954. One should just watch initial fifteen minutes of this film to understand the extent to which a juvenile can go in order to have fun.The film is able to win viewers' sympathies through its honest portrayal of young people who commit offenses.There is an air of authenticity in the events which take place in an "observation center" for young delinquents.These are two key reasons to watch this film.

As the previous poster mentioned Truffaut hated this movie so Jean Dalannoy had to be doing something right. Delannoy was, of course, making fine films when Truffaut was still throwing his toys out of his pram and insulting his betters so that in itself is a benchmark. I doubt if anyone would be tempted to rank this effort amongst the all-time great French films but nevertheless it's a solid story - by Jean Aurenche who could write a better screenplay than Truffaut with one vowel behind his back and whom Truffaut also despised, natch; have a sour grape, Frankie - top-billing Jean Gabin as a humane judge who becomes involved in the lives of several 'bad' boys, some viewers will see the occasional nod to Dead End and/or Boys Town but better those than the 400 Yawns.