The first preview screening of the 113-minute version of "The Rules of the Game" took place on June 28, 1939. It received a poor reaction from the audience. On June 29, the film was screened for the Minister of National Education and Fine Arts Jean Zay and for the jury of the annual Louis Delluc Prize for the best French film. When the awards were announced 10 days later, Marcel Carne's "Le Quai des brumes" won the first prize and "The Rules of the Game" was not a runner-up. Because of the success and popularity of Renoir's previous films, "The Rules of the Game" was highly anticipated, and Zay had expected to award it the prize. Renoir later said he thought the film would be commercially successful.