Jean Renoir's ruthless love triangle tale. Criterion Collection Year 1931 Video Release 2016 06 14 Studio Criterion Collection Genre Drama MPAA Rating Not Rated Color Color Runtime 96 Animated Live Action Full Synopsis Jean Renoir's ruthless love triangle tale, his second sound film, is a true precursor to his brilliantly bitter The Rules of the Game, displaying all of the filmmaker's visual genius and fully imbued with his profound humanity. Michel Simon cuts a tragic figure as an unhappily married cashier and amateur painter who becomes so smitten with a prostitute that he refuses to see the obvious that she and her pimp boyfriend are taking advantage of him. Renoir's elegant compositions and camera movements carry this twisting narrative a stinging commentary on class and sexual divisions to an unforgettably ironic conclusion. Director Jean Renoir Cast Jean Renoir; Michel Simon; Georges Flamant; Janie Marese