Chiens perdus sans collier

Chiens Perdus sans Collier (Lost Dogs without Collars) is a small-scale venture from director Jean Delannoy, who at the time was more closely associated with more elaborate efforts. Like many American films of the period, Delannoy's picture deals with the ever-growing problem of juvenile delinquency (the film's title is symbolic). Jean Gabin plays a white-haired judge who feels that the basic cause of teenaged crime is lack of parental love and supervision. His thesis would seem to be borne out by the cases of three young "lost dogs," whose desperate desire to "belong" ends in tragedy. As was his custom in the mid-1950s, Jean Delannoy handles his material with slickness but not much depth. - Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide