THE RULES OF THE GAME. I feel a little silly offering one of my "last-minute" recommendations for The Rules of the Game/La Règle du jeu (1939). I mean, is it really necessary for me (or anyone else) to give a "thumbs up" to a movie consistently ranked in well-respected Top Ten Lists (see here and here for examples)? Of course it's not necessary...but I had such a good time revisiting the Jean Renoir classic last night at The Film Forum that I want to let you know and urge you to give it a try if you can squeeze it into your very busy schedule before the revival ends tomorrow.

The Film Forum quotes the late Robert Altman as saying "The Rules of the Game taught me the rules of the game." If you're familiar with Altman's work, it's easy to see why the director would say that. The Rules of the Game is an ensemble work shot and edited to encourage viewers to actively sort out the multiple plot threads woven into its engaging patterns of comedy, drama, and romance. Many of the film's situations were already familiar at the time of its creation--in cinema alone, it's got much in common with Dinner at Eight (1933), Grand Hotel (1932), and even Animal Crackers (1930) and L'Âge d'Or (1930) and Pandora's Box (1929)--but its twists and turns can startle, intrigue, and even trouble audiences today. (One key incident may remind you of a not-so-distant news story.) The excellent cast includes Marcel Dalio (left), Nora Grégor (right; a.k.a. The Princess von Starhemberg), Julien Carette, Gaston Modot, Paulette Dubost, Roland Toutain, and Renoir himself.

An interesting aspect of The Rules of the Game is the story of its survival. Made under the looming threat of Nazi invasion, this study in French foibles opened to a poor reception, after which Renoir subjected it to significant cuts. Yet it was still banned as "demoralizing" in its home country. Allied bombing then destroyed the original negative during World War II. Only in 1959 was the movie reconstructed using recovered material. The Janus print at The Film Forum is a digital restoration and apparently the first new 35 mm print in decades.

The Rules of the Game is also on DVD and frequently revived, but this Janus print is another one of those good quality re-releases with details that probably come across significantly better when projected. If, like me, you've seen one of the many inferior prints of The Rules of the Game, it's worthwhile to go back and view it in some improved form, as per this excellent though not spoiler-free write-up by Roger Ebert.)

Pictured below: Carette, Modot, Dubost, Grégor, Toutain, Renoir