Figure 1.--This poster for the movie shows one of the boys in a military-style cap and pea jacket smoking a cigar. |
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This French black and white movie from Jean Vigo was released in 1933. It was a short film only 43 minutes. It depicts life in a French boys' college. There are boarders and day-pupils, I would say
between 9 and 14 years old. It is not a religious college but I cannot say whether it is private or public, but the fact that it had boarders suggest that it was a private sdchool.. The movie finishes with the revolt of four boys throwing things to the guests from the roofs during the college fête. A precursor of the British public school movie If. Here is a description of the pupils' clothes as depicted in the film.
The boys at the start of the academic year are pictured coming to school. In the train, 2 boarders about 14 years old: both wear a dark greatcoat with a half belt in the back decorated with 4 gilded
buttons, double breasted (2x5 gilded
buttons) plus 2 more buttons apparently for
the lapels. White shirts with dark ties.
One wears short pants (fancy clear wool)
and rather dark knee socks with 1 colored
band at the top (British style), the other
one wears a dark long pants. Dark shoes with strings and officer cap for both of them.
The boys are pictured at the train statin. At the station another boy, about 12 years old, escorted
by his mother. Dark pea jacket, double
breasted, 2x2 gilded buttons, an officer
cap, long hair, clear short pants rather
short, clear mid socks, dark shoes with
string.
3/ At the dormitory
Nightshirts and pajamas.
4/ Break in the playground
Casual clothes (no uniform), with or
without smocks. Smocks are black and closed
at the back. As apparently no one wants to
button the other's smock only the top
button is attached and as there is no belt
of any kind (except for one with a military
belt other the smock) smocks are flying
when the pupils are walking or running.
Mainly short pants, 1 knickers, some long
pants, various knee socks including English
style, various scarves, some jackets, some sweaters, one Jacquard-style sweater, some berets (all the berets are strongly deep-set, no hair going beyond).
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Boys are pictured walking. They wear the uniform greatcoats (one with the peacoat) with the officer caps.
Under the greatcoats usual clothes, mainly
short pants, some various scarves, some
various knee socks.
Inside the college only one boy about 14 year old wear the uniform and completely (greatcoat, jacket and long pants)
The formal uniform is only worn outside the college, not inside where casual clothes are worn. Martial uniforms, not the glitzy British style. However some knee socks look like the English ones. About half of the pupils wear smocks; they are black, of the style closed at the back and worn without any belt (except for one).
Officer cap is part of the uniform and only a few berets are worn casually. Mainly short pants. Short pants, sweaters, scarves even knee socks of any style.
A reader writes, A British reader tells us, "'Zero de Conduite' was later remade in the U.K. The title was 'If'. Also as a comedy film staring a British Actor called Jimmy Edwards entitled 'Wacko'."
