La Chienne (Criterion Collection)

Director Jean Renoir’s first sound feature was this controversial psychological drama that concerns meek cashier and gifted amateur artist Maurice Legrand (Michel Simon), who becomes hopelessly infatuated with a young woman, Lulu (Janie Marèse), he meets on the street while painting. Overcome with desire--and unaware she’s a prostitute--Maurice allows himself to become the patsy to Lulu and her pimp boyfriend, Dédé (Georges Flamant). Later remade by Fritz Lang as "Scarlet Street." Co-stars Magdeleine Bérubet. 96 min. Standard; Soundtrack: French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English; interview; bonus film "On Purge Bébé" (1931); French television program "Jean Renoir Le Patron: Michel Simon" (1966); essay. In French with English subtitles. Two-disc set.