The Rules of the Game

World-famous pilot André Jurieux has just broken the world record for crossing the Atlantic from America to France. All of Paris seems to come to welcome him home, except for the woman André loves. In a moment of anger, André denounces Christine, Marquise de la Chesnaye, for not being there to greet him. André’s outburst embarrasses Christine’s husband Robert and is desperate for some way to save face. His friend Octave suggests they invite André and all of their friends for a party at the La Colinière estate to smooth things over. Once everyone arrives, the weekend becomes a series of separate stories that slowly leak into each other until it becomes a farce of deception, ego, and anger.

Production

Directed by Jean Renoir

Produced by Claude Renoir

Written by Jean Renoir, Carl Koch

Starring Nora Gregor, Paulette Dubost, Mila Parél, Marcel Dalio, Julien Carette, Roland Toutain, Gaston Modot, Pierre Magnier, Jean Renoir

Music by Joseph Kosma

Cinematography by Jean Bachelet

Edited by Marguerite Renoir

Production companies: Nouvelle Édition Française

Distribution & Stats

Distributed by Gaumont Film Company

Release date: 7 July 1939 (Paris)

Running time: 110 minutes

Country: France

Language: French

Budget: 5,500,500 francs