The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane
| The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane | |
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Promotional poster for U.S. release
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| Directed by | Nicolas Gessner |
| Produced by | Zev Braun |
| Written by | Laird Koenig |
| Based on |
The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane by Laird Koenig |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Christian Gaubert |
| Cinematography | René Verzier |
| Edited by | Yves Langlois |
| Distributed by |
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Release date
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Running time
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91 minutes |
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| Language | English |
The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane is a 1976 Canadian-French film directed by Nicolas Gessner and starring Jodie Foster, Martin Sheen, Alexis Smith, Mort Shuman, and Scott Jacoby. It was written by Laird Koenig, based on his 1974 novel of the same title.
The plot focuses on 13-year-old Rynn Jacobs (Foster), a mysterious child whose dark secrets concerning her absent poet father are prodded by various nosy neighbours in a small town in Maine. The adaptation, originally intended as a play, was filmed in Quebec on a small budget, with effects depicting the death of a person and an animal.
Initially released to mixed reviews, the film won two Saturn Awards, including for Best Horror Film. It later obtained cult status, with writers and critics reading it as a statement on children's rights and variously placing it in the thriller, horror or mystery genres.
On Halloween in the seaside town of Wells Harbor, Maine, Rynn Jacobs is celebrating her thirteenth birthday alone in her father Lester's house. Lester was a poet and the two recently moved from England, where he leased the house for three years. Frank Hallet, the adult son of landlord Cora Hallet, visits and makes sexual advances toward Rynn. Cora Hallet later arrives at the house, searching for Rynn's father. Rynn claims he is in New York and taunts the landlord about her son. The situation becomes more tense when Mrs. Hallet insists on retrieving her jelly glasses from the cellar. Rynn steadfastly refuses to let her in the cellar, and Mrs. Hallet leaves. She returns later, and, ignoring Rynn's warnings, opens the trapdoor to go into the cellar. Suddenly terrified by something she sees, Mrs. Hallet attempts to flee but accidentally knocks down the cellar door support, fatally hitting her head on the door.
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