aka The Rules of the Game
starring Marcel Dalio, Nora Gregor, Paulette Dubost
directed by Jean Renoir
110 minutes
in French with English subtitles
Robert (Marcel Dalio) and Christine de la Cheyniest (Nora Gregor) invite friends over for a weekend at their palatial home. The guest list includes former and current lovers of both spouses. The infidelity extends beyond the party guests to the servants including Lisette Schumacher (Paulette Dubost), Christine's chamber maid, who despite being married finds herself attracted to Marceau, a new addition to the staff. Ultimately the infidelity leads to tragedy as one of the guests is killed by Lisette's husband who thinks he witnesses Lisette being unfaithful with one of the guests.
I'm not sure what to make of this movie. I think it went a little in one ear and out the other. It was difficult keeping track of everything and everyone. There's a lot going on here and the movie does not slow down much to let the viewer catch their breath and take stock of what they just saw. I know that this movie gets very high marks but based on this one viewing I can't say that I like it.
Notes
Jean Renoir played the part of Octave, one of the party guests, in addition to directing this movie. This is the only movie of his that I have seen in recent years.
Marcel Dalio has been in at least five movies that I have seen including To Have and Have Not (1944) and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). He appeared in one episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
Julien Carette played the part of Marceau. I've seen him in a couple other films including Fanfare of Love (1935).
No comments:
Post a Comment