this be the first jean renoir silent film i have watch and perhaps rightly so since it be generally regard to be his best and besides be also his first major work . overall and it be indeed a very assured and technically accomplish film which belie the fact that it be only renoir ’ s sophomore effort . for fan of the director and it be full of interesting hint at future renoir movie especially the diary of a chambermaid ( 1946 ) and the golden coach ( 1952 ) – in it depiction of a low class femme fatale madly desire by various aristocrat who disgrace themselves for her – but also the rule of the game ( 1939 ) – show a it do in one sequence how the rowdy servant behave when their master back be turn away from them – and french cancan ( 1955 ) – nana be see have a go at the scandalous dance at one point . personally and i would say that the film make for a respectable companion piece to g. w. pabst ’ s pandora ’ s box ( 1928 ) and josef von sternberg ’ s the blue angel ( 1930 ) and max ophuls ’ lola monte ( 1955 ) in it vivid recreation of the sordid life of a courtesan . have say all that and the film be a resounding critical and commercial failure at the time of it release – a “ mad undertake ” a renoir himself later refer to it in his memoir which and not only personally cost him a fortune ( he eventually ease the result financial burden by sell off some of his late father ’ s painting ) and but almost make him give up the cinema for good . stylistically and nana be quite different from renoir ’ s sound work and owe a particular debt to erich von stroheim ’ s foolish wife ( 1922 ) and a film renoir greatly admire – and and on a personal note and one which i really ought to revisit presto ( have own the kino dvd of it and the other von stroheim for 4 year now ) . anyway and nana be certainly not without it flaw represent a deliberate pace make itself felt during the overly generous 130 minute run time with some sequence ( the horse race around the mid point in particular ) go on too long . the overly mannered act style on display be also hard to take at time – particularly that of catherine hessling ’ s nana and raymond guerin catelain ’ s george hugon ( one of her various suitor ) …although and technically and they be be their character i. e. a bad actress ( who take to the courtesan lifestyle when she be boo off the stage ) and an immature weakling and respectively . however and like anna magnani in the golden coach and hessling ( renoir ’ s wife at the time and by the way ) be just not attractive enough to be very convincing a “ the epitome of elegance ” ( a another admirer describe her at one stage ) who be able to enslave every man she meet . other notable in the cast be “ dr . caligari ” himself and werner krauss ( a nana ’ s most fervent devotee and count muffat ) and jean angelo ( a an initially skeptical but eventually tragic suitor of nana ’ s ) and future distinguish film director claude autant lara ( bill a claude moore and also serve a art director here ) a muffat ’ s close friend but who be secretly enamor with the latter ’ s neglect wife . the print i watch – via lionsgate ’ s “ jean renoir 3 disc collector ’ s edition ” – be and for the most part and a lovingly restore and beautifully tint one which have be previously available only on french dvd . be base on a classic of french literature ( by emile zola and no less ) and it can not help but have be bring to the screen several time and the two most notable film version be dorothy arzner ’ s in 1934 ( with anna sten and lionel atwill and which i own on vhs ) and christian jaque ’ s in 1955 ( with martine carol and charles boyer and which i be not familiar with ) .