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(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
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Poster
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Theatrical Release: July 8th, 1939
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Recommended Reading in French Cinema (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
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|
My
Life and My Films (Da Capo Paperback) |
French Cinema: A Student's Guide by Philip Powrie, Keith Reader |
Agnes Varda by Alison Smith | Godard on Godard : Critical Writings by Jean-Luc Godard |
Jean Renoir (French Film Directors) by Martin O'Shaughnessy |
Robert Bresson (Cinematheque Ontario Monographs, No.
2) by James Quandt |
The Art of Cinema by Jean Cocteau |
French New Wave
by Jean Douchet, Robert Bonnono, Cedric Anger, Robert Bononno |
French Cinema: From Its Beginnings to the Present by Remi Fournier Lanzoni |
Check out more in "The Library"
DVD Review: Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC
| DVD Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from:
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| Distribution | Criterion Collection Spine # 216 - Region 0 - NTSC | |
| Runtime | 1:46:20 | |
| Video | 1.33:1
Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.27 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
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| Bitrate:
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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| Audio | French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) | |
| Subtitles | English, None | |
| Features |
Release Information: Edition Details:
DVD Release Date: January 20th, 2004 |
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| Comments: |
Lets get right to the supplements - they are overwhelming and I cannot begin to go into them in detail. An audio commentary on the first disc just touch upon the incredibly deep and painstaking detail Criterion went through with this disc. Their comparison can tell a further story on the lengths they had to go to in restoring this image. This DVD has the best packaging I have ever seen except for the Carlton "The Red Shoes". A fold out book format inside a transparent plastic slip-case. The picture is not
without a few flaws but lets be fair - the negatives for this (over 60
years old) film no longer exist. There is flickering contrast and
occasional damage marks - but overall this is such a refreshingly clean
view of this film that you are readily willing to accept the minor dirt
and scratches. the subtitles are perfect - another of Criterion's
mainstays. The audio is of similar condition - an occasional audible
'hiss' and the French dialogue is clear for a mono track. As with
Tokyo Story
Criterion has gone beyond any reasonable attempt to put this film on
Digital Versatile Disc medium - How we, the ecstatic public, can ever
thank them for their efforts is beyond me - I suggest we all buy 2
copies - how's that?
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Subtitle Sample
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Screen Captures
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NOTE: Damage appeared in only the first frame of this sequence.
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