Rules of the Game -- Best movie ever made?

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I went yesterday to see its restored form at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, where some forty years ago, still in school, I saw it the first time. I selected the 4:45 matinee and the house was comfortably full -- how great to live in a civilized city! And with a comedy it's always better to watch with an appreciative audience.
In the interim I had forgotten what an immense work of art this is. Also I had forgotten several important elements (not the cinematography), especially the whole character of Shumacher and the business around him. The pillow-throwing aristocrats, I remembered, and Jean Renoir's own vital performance.
Another thing that surprised me was Monsieur le Marquis's obvious Jewishness, which I think had eluded me the first time. (I'm betting he was modeled after Baron Rothschild.) Also I had not registered the remarkable non-pc dialog -- people talking about yids, Negroes, Arabs (favorably, because they have harems...).
Also at one point Madam Christine is weeping about all the lies we tell, and Octave (Renoir) comforts her with this line: Lies are what we live on. The government lies, the radio lies, the newspapers lie... A murmur of appreciative amusement swept over the Cambridge audience; one hopes they realize that the newspapers in question are not, for instance, the Sioux City Journal, but the NY Times, the Washington Post and le Figaro.
After that movie, the day astonishingly went on to get even better.
clark

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Topic - Rules of the Game -- Best movie ever made? - clarkjohnsen 11:08:38 01/01/07 (9)

Re: Definitely one of the top five! - Gee LP 19:32:50 01/02/07 (1)

No, but clearly... - EBerlin 17:51:39 01/03/07 (0)

I saw RotG yesterday in Chicago. - Harmonia 21:23:31 01/01/07 (1)

Yes to all that -- and applause *is* gratifying. nt - clarkjohnsen 16:24:08 01/02/07 (0)

Re: Rules of the Game -- Best movie ever made? - rico 13:26:35 01/01/07 (3)

Don't listen to Victor. The answer is: - clarkjohnsen 10:02:11 01/02/07 (1)

Re: Don't listen to Victor. The answer is: - rico 09:56:43 01/03/07 (0)

"how/why did the day get better? " Clark found a half-full beer can on the park bench. - Victor Khomenko 16:49:34 01/01/07 (0)

Very close. Certainly one of 100 best ever. (nt) - Victor Khomenko 12:02:00 01/01/07 (0)

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