6.5/10
Senior Film Conservator

A definitive 6.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Un mauvais garçon remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like vintage French cinema that doesn't try to solve the world's problems, sure. It’s perfect for a rainy afternoon when you just want something light and slightly cynical about love.
However, if you get annoyed by plots that rely entirely on 1930s-style "deal-making" between fathers and daughters, you might want to skip it. The premise feels like a relic, though a pretty charming one.
Danielle Darrieux is just magnetic here. She brings this sharp, energetic vibe to Jacqueline that makes the whole thing hold together, even when the script gets a bit repetitive.
She plays the "lawyer in training" with such confidence that you almost forget how ridiculous the bet with her father actually is. Who actually agrees to marry a stranger over a career deadline? Whatever, it works in the context of the film.
The courtroom scenes are... well, they aren't exactly grounded in reality. They feel more like a stage play than a legal drama, which is totally fine. There’s this one moment where she defends Pierre Besnard, the "bad boy" of the title, and the camera just stays on her face while she’s talking. It’s a bit long, but you can see her character genuinely starting to lose her cool, which is a nice little touch.
Speaking of Pierre, he’s exactly the kind of rogue you expect. He’s charming, he’s trouble, and he looks great in a suit. The chemistry between them is snappy. It doesn't have the weight of something like The Mark of Zorro, obviously, but it’s got a rhythm that feels very human and messy.
I found myself zoning out a bit during the scenes with the father, Monsieur Serval. He’s a bit of a cartoon character. But then the movie shifts back to the streets of Paris and the energy picks right back up.
Is it a masterpiece? No. But it’s got a personality that’s hard to hate. It reminds me a little bit of the breezy, slightly off-kilter vibe in Si tu vois mon oncle. Not the same, but it lives in the same neighborhood.
If you watch it, pay attention to the way the camera tracks Darrieux. It’s like the movie knows she’s the only one really driving the bus. Everything else is just set dressing. 🎬

IMDb —
1923
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