"The Rules of the Game" Montparnasse Region 2,3,4,5,6 - PAL vs. Criterion Region 0

(aka "The Rules of the Game")

directed by Jean Renoir
France 1939

Widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, Jean Renoir’s masterpiece The Rules of the Game is a scathing critique of corrupt French society cloaked in a comedy of manners. At a weekend hunting party, amorous escapades abound among the aristocratic guests and are mirrored by the activities of the servants downstairs. The refusal of one of the guests to play by society’s rules sets off a chain of events that ends in tragedy. Poorly received upon its release in 1939, the film was severely re-edited, and the original negative was destroyed during World War II. Only in 1959 was the film fully reconstructed and embraced by audiences and critics who now see the film as a timeless representation of a vanishing way of life. out of

Poster

Theatrical Release: July 8th, 1939

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DVD Comparison:

Edition Montparnasse Region 2,3,4,5,6 - PAL vs. Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC

Big thanks to the Markus of Chiaroscuro and his review of the Montparnasse DVD located HERE.

(Montparnasse - Region 2,3,4,5,6 - PAL - LEFT vs. Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	Montparnasse / Buena Vista / Collection Diamant Region 2,3,4,5,6 - PAL	Criterion Collection Spine # 216 Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime	1:41:42 (+ 4% PAL Speedup = 1:46:30)	1:46:20
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.84 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.27 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
Audio	French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)	French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
Subtitles	English, Spanish, German and none	English, and none
Features	Release Information: Studio: Editions Montparnasse / Buena Vista / Collection Diamant Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Documentary: La règle du jeu de Jean Renoir: Une analyse du film par l’image, by Pierre-Oscar Levy with texts by Jean Douchet, from the 1987 TV series Image par Image (42:36 min) • Film Posters • DVD-ROM: Biographies & filmographies • Complete Crew & Cast • Internet Links DVD Release Date: April 26th, 1999 Keep Case Chapters 18	Release Information: Studio: Criterion / Home Vision Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Introduction to the film by Jean Renoir • Audio commentary written by film scholar Alexander Sesonske and read by filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich • Selected scene audio commentary by Renoir historian Christopher Faulkner • Jean Renoir le Patron: La Regle et l'Exception (1966), a French television program about The Rules of the Game featuring interviews with Renoir and actor Marcel Dalio directed by Jacques Rivette (31:13) • A new video essay about the film's production, release, and later reconstruction • Jean Gaborit and Jacques Durand discuss their reconstruction and re-release of the film (1965) • New interview with Renoir's son, Alain, an assistant cameraman on the film • New interview with set designer Max Douy • Written tributes to the film and Renoir by Francois Truffaut, Paul Schrader, Bertrand Tavernier, Wim Wenders, and others. • Number of discs: 2 DVD Release Date: January 20th, 2004 Slip Case inside transparent plastic sleeve Chapters: 29
Comments:	Both DVDs are the longer un-cut version of the film restored by film historians Jean Gaborit and Jacques Durand. The Montparnasse also has PAL speedup. The Criterion is sharper - less grain and dirt - and shows the Montparnasse version to be slightly cropped on the left and right edges. The Criterion is a bit brighter than the PAL release. The Montparnasse has some good Extras but how could they compete with the Criterions staggering supplements. I cannot compare the audio - but guesses would lean towards Criterion. the Criterion contrast level is softer, but the subtle palette of grays still show with clarity. Go for the Criterion... - Gary W. Tooze

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(Montparnasse - Region 2,3,4,5,6 - PAL - LEFT vs. Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)