I think I've watched Rules of the Game twenty times. Each time I watch it it grows more significant as a film. For me it's a three-way race for best film of all time: Rules of the Game, Vertigo, Citizen Kane.
i haven't seen it but roger ebert gave it a glowing review
It's one of the greatest of all films. It was roundly criticized when first released in France in 1939, and the wartime government and the Nazis banned it during the Occupation. It was restored to its original length in the 1950s and now can be seen in its best version.
is that your favorite renoir film? i hear la chienne is one of his best
Some prefer Grand Illusion and maybe La Chienne to Rules of the Game, but I think RotG is his very best film. He actually made films in America during the '40s and '50s.
oh yeah, like The Southerner, which was filmed in america
And which is also a very fine film, but very unlike most American films that were being made at the time.
what film would you recommend of his to start with?
I'd say Grand Illusion. It's a great antiwar film. While I have you here... Renoir had to cut RotG down from it's original length of 113 mins. after its disastrous premier. Do you know the running time of that cut version?
it looks like it was cut down to 80 minutes
OK, thanks! I could have looked it up, but I think it's faster asking you. I appreciate it!