In 1942, during one of the Allied bombings of Boulogne-sur-Seine, the G.M. Film Lab, which housed the original negative of "The Rules of the Game", was destroyed. In 1946, a print of the 85-minute version was found in a box, and a new print was made from it. This version occasionally was screened at film clubs, cinematheques and film festivals, and its reputation slowly began to grow. It finally premiered in New York City in April 1950, but it was critically unsuccessful. A review in the "New York Times" called it "one for the buzzards" and stated "the master has dealt his admirers a pointless, thudding punch below the belt." In 1952, the 85-minute version was included in "Sight & Sound" inaugural list of the 10 greatest films ever made.