Rules of the Game

Movie: The Rules of the Game, 1939; 106 min

Director: John Renoir

Actors: Nora Gregor, Paulette Dubost, Marcel Dalio, Jean Renoir, Julien Carette

Summary: The story focuses on wealthy French life at the beginning of World War II. It follows the wealthy and their servants in their game of love.

Question 1: Explain a scene where source music is used to portray the life of the wealthy during the time.

            Source music is used throughout the film – when a band is playing, when people are singing; it is heard/seen anytime the source of the music can be recognized on screen. One specific scene where source music is used occurs when the man and the maid are standing in one of the expensively furnished rooms in the affluent household. The source of the music comes from the record player that the two play in the room. As the music plays, the man and maid run around the room laughing and smiling. The music coming from the record player has an upbeat rhythm. This upbeat rhythm, along with the laughing and running around, portrays the carefree and privileged life of the wealthy people living in the mansion.

Question 2: During the hunt scene, what techniques does the director use to make the audience feel like they are taking part in the hunt?

            The scene begins with men walking through the forest, hitting the trees to make the rabbits come out. As the camera follows the men, it also follows the rabbits that are soon to be hunted. The director’s use of this series of tracking shots gives the audience a sense that they are walking alongside the men and taking part in the adventure of the hunt. Instead of simply showing the hunt, the director uses the tracking shots during the preparation of the hunt (which is using noise to get the rabbits out of hiding). These tracking shots build up to the excitement of the hunt, bringing the audience into the scene at the same time. The scene ends with loud gunshots going off and rabbits and peasants are seen falling to the ground. The hunt has begun and by this point the audience feels like they are taking part in the excitement due to the director’s use of tracking shots at the beginning of the scene.