John Renoir, a French filmmaker, was born on 15 September 1894 in Montmartre district, Paris. He contributed immensely in the film industry as a director, producer, author and actor. He produced almost fifty films during the silent epoch as both a director and an actor. Some of the scenes in his films contained the best scenes ever witnessed in any film.
Similarly, the themes and settings of the films depicted the social practices during the time. Through the inspiration he received from his father, he was able to explore and adventure in the film industry earning substantial reputation. This is depicted in the series of events he underwent through and his lifestyle (Druick and Auguste 24). Nevertheless, Renoir was a committed and focused man, who explored the unimaginable heights of filmmaking.
Renoir’s early life was exciting but full of challenges. He was a second-born in a family of three. His father, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and mother, Aline, were the best mentors that gave him an inspiration in the industry. When he was still young, he attended one of the best boarding schools.
This was facilitated by the father’s financial stability. Although he did not enjoy the school’s experience, he completed it before joining the Cavalry. Consequently, he moved from the cavalry to be a reconnaissance pilot. After the outbreak of World War I, he served in the cavalry until his leg was shot.
At the end of the war, his limp was permanently disabled. This forced him to explore other opportunities in life. Through his father’s painting skills, he learnt how to model the best pictures and scenes. In addition, all his siblings had some contribution in the industry, which gave him motivation. All the challenges he received from his relations combined with Erich Stroheim’s work steered him to the film industry.
He married Catherine Hessling, one of the models of his father. He began to make movies with an intention of making her a star. After the disappointment he experienced in marriage, they separated in 1930. Although they remained together until 1943, he moved on and established a relationship with Marguerite Renoir. During World War II, he moved from France to the United States. This was triggered by the German invasion in France. Following this move, he acquired a naturalized US citizenship (Gaunt 88).
Renoir’s first experience to direct films occurred in 1924. During the time, he directed nine movies that had the silent features. Considering the fact that movies did not have substantial returns, he depended on income from the sale of his father’s paintings. In addition, the inheritance from his father played a critical role towards his venture. His first movie was the ‘La Fille de l’eau’, the English translation being ‘Whirlpool of Fate’.
The movie consisted of various features indicating the output of a first timer director. This is depicted by the variations of tones and emotions in the movie, which makes it melodramatic. Meanwhile, the succeeding films were entertaining and reflected the social issues affecting the society at the time. Some of the issues that were covered include love, leadership styles, poverty and education. After the gradual growth in change of preference and taste for the films among consumers, his career began to gain value (Jean Renoir).
In the course of 1930s, his movies received international recognition. It was in this era where he also upgraded from the silent films to sound films. The first sound films he produced include Baby’s Laxative and the Bitch. Baby Laxative covered themes of love, male chauvinism, illiteracy and other social aspects. It elaborated on the lifestyles of many people in that generation.
Through the combinations of sound and images, he demonstrated the traits and behaviours of a large proportion of the society. The Bitch also had vital societal issues, but its main objective was directed to the state of immorality experienced in the society. Renoir intended to denounce and provoke the rising culture of immorality.
This touched most members of the society from the rich to the peasants. In addition, the disparity experienced between the royal and the peasants was illustrated. Through these movies, most social injustices in the society were portrayed. Consequently, it portrayed how economic and political issues were well integrated in the social issues.
In 1932, Renoir produced the movie titled ‘Boudu Saved from Drowning’ played by Michel Simon. It covered an outrageous family whose breadwinner was a bookseller. The efforts placed by the leading actor while attempting to rehabilitate a beggar illustrate the comic in the film.
Although, the whole process is disastrous, Renoir indicates the importance of being tolerant and understanding for the less privileged in the society. When the beggar makes a comic out of the rich, he indicates the partiality in the society. In addition, there is concern of the negligence of the leaders. Unluckily, the beggar is reformed, but he does not admire the behaviours of the rich, causing him to drag into poverty.
The work of his efforts made him join the list of some leading producers at the time. Some of his leading movies such as ‘The crime of Monsieur Lange’ and ‘Life Belongs to us’ had influential themes. In addition, the manner in which information was delivered in the movies ranked his movies among the best. In this case, political aspects were portrayed in the movies, which influenced the leadership styles. In addition, the audience were able to gain an insight of the appropriate leadership styles the desired (Druick and Auguste, 128).
During the end of the decade, the movie, Grand illusion, was one of the best movies of all times starring renowned actors like Jean Gabin and Erich Stroheim. The movie was based on the escapes witnessed during World War II by the French. This was the first movie to be nominated for foreign language awards.
Despite winning an award at the Venice Film festival, it was outlawed in Germany and Italy (Grand Illusion). Consequently, Renoir was challenged to produce other movies that would obtain nominations for the awards. Some of the prosperous movies that he released after the previous movie was outlawed include the human beast and tragedy.
After he had acquired a substantial amount of capital, he was able to finance fully his own movies. In this case, he ventured wholly into the diverse market of filmmaking. This implies that he produced films such as coming-of-age films, films based on novels, films set in India, films set in the British Empire and romantic films.
At the time, he also made one of the best selling movies known as the rules of the game. The movie triggered rebellion within government representatives in France. As a result, it was outlawed immediately after the outbreak of World War II. One of the main reasons for this action was that the movie was satirical to the French society. This led to its poor performance in the market. After the French empire was overthrown, the ban was lifted once again to prevent any rebellion from the minority.
Under the movie, Renoir played some part as Octave. He mainly attempted to promote integration of people within the play (The Rules of the Game). With the challenges that the movie aroused against the government, most people attempted to destroy its original film. This initiative bore fruits after the bombing raid. After this event had taken place, Renoir was forced to move from France to Italy due to security instability.
The treats that faced him after the release of the rules of the game grew exponentially. He moved with Karl Koch and Dido Freire to produce a film called Tosca, which neutralised the conditions of the market. However, before he completed making the film, he returned home to serve in the military.
In the army, he gradually rose in ranks to the post of a lieutenant. When the French government realised his potential, he was sent to Italy to teach filmmaking as a way to improve the relationship of both countries. In the course of his service in Italy, he managed to complete making the Tosca film. Before the start of the war, he returned back home. However, when Germany began to invade the French empire he fled to US.
While in the US, it was difficult for him to find a suitable position in Hollywood. This is attributed to the challenges he experienced while establishing the appropriate project that would have served his interests. However, he directed an anti-Hitler’s leadership movie called This Land is Mine in 1943.
This movie was aimed at retaliating to Hitler’s regime starring Charles Laughton. Although the movie did not receive substantial influence in the market, he never gave up with production. His subsequent movie was the Southerner. This movie was rated as the best film covering American societal issues, which he directed.
In addition, the movie was nominated for the American Academy Award. Other subsequent movies after this movie include, Diary of a chambermaid and the woman on the Beach. These movies targeted the interests of the American audience. Based on the returns generated from the two films, which were low, they became the last movies Renoir produced while in America. Moreover, Renoir had already acquired the American citizenship (Druick and Auguste 321).
When Renoir realised that filmmaking business was not lucrative in the American Society, he decided to venture in the Indian market. In 1949, he produced his first film named the River. The movie was based on a novel written by R. Godden. The movie illustrated the way people conserved their environment. By demonstrating the manner in which people treasured their environment, he portrayed the relationship between humanity and nature.
In addition, some scenes indicated a coming of age experience. In this case, three girls from the colonial Indian setting are used to depict the relationship between humanity and nature. As a result, his movie made a substantial contribution in the film industry, which made it win an award at the Venice Film Festival. This was attributed to themes portrayed in the movie such as cultural and racial variation. In addition, it was the first colour film he made.
The returns that aroused from the film, the river, allowed him to return to Europe and pursue his passion. During the time, he made a substantial investment in the musical comedies. In addition, the themes covered mainly touched on issues such as theatre, economy and politics.
In this case, some of the films he made include The Golden coach, Elena and her men and French Cancan. In addition, there were some short plays he wrote and produced while in Italy such as Orvet and the Big Knife. These productions were influential in the society and gave a deep insight of the public issues. Moreover, they serve the need for entertainment since they were comical full of hilarious scenes and jokes (Leavey 8).
The advancement in the television technology gave Renoir a chance to produce films that were compatible with most electronic devices. At the time, Renoir wrote and directed the movie, Picnic on the Grass, at the grounds of his parents’ home. Another movie that was produced through incorporation of the technology is the testament of Doctor Cordelier, which was made the boulevards and environs of Paris.
In the year 1962, Renoir produced an outstanding film starring Jean-Pierre Cassel called The Elusive corporal. Its settings were based on the French POWS, which involve the mistreatments imposed on the people by the Nazis. Some other vital elements explored in the movie include human rights, emotional stability and economic security. After releasing the movie, Renoir published a chronicle of his loving father titled Renoir, My father.
Under the chronicle, he illustrated his father’s contribution to his growth and personal work in terms of inspiration and mentorship. He recognized and appreciated the importance of his father’s painting skills, which enabled him to be creative and innovative in the film industry. In this regard, he highly regarded the inheritance his father left for him, which allowed him venture into the industry with reasonable finance.
In the 1960s, his performance in the film industry was deteriorating. To cover up for the losses, Renoir wrote screenplays to sustain him in the financial challenges. In the course of this period, he wrote a novel titled The Notebooks of Captain Georges, which was published in 1965.
The novel covered the themes of exploitation and male chauvinism. In this case, a rich and educated man exploits a peasant girl because of her background. In addition, the girl is forced to give in to the wishes of the man since the parents desired to get a substantial return from their daughter’s dowry. This movie covered interesting topics of the society that some of his other movies such as Diary of a Chambermaid had addressed.
In 1969, Renoir retired in the filmmaking industry by producing the last movie called The Little theatre of Jean Renoir. The movie was composed of three interesting episodes with multiple designs of scenes. It was the ultimate challenge he experienced while integrating the avant-garde and eccentric works in the movie.
Nevertheless, the production process was successful and gave a new direction to the film industry. After the production of this movie, he encountered serious financial crisis, which prevented him from making any other film. Consequently, he spent most of his time at home in Beverly Hills watching over his deteriorating health. Despite his health conditions, he continued to write novels and memoirs to his fans. This motivated him and boosted his mental and emotional stability (Gaunt 145).
At one instance during his last days, Renoir felt ill while attempting to direct one of his stage plays called Carola. Unfortunately, he could not accomplish his task and one of the starring actors in the movie, The Southerner, took over the responsibility. This play caught the interests of the public and was aired on the local television channels in 1973.
Furthermore, the play challenged some of the best plays from the Hollywood movies. This disapproved the earlier statements of Hollywood stakeholders about the unsuitability of Renoir in the American market. In this case, Renoir’s movies began to gain impressive demand from the locals.
In 1974, Renoir wrote one of his last memoirs known as My Life and My Films illustrating the manner in which one of his cousins was critical in his life. His cousin had moved to live with them immediately after he was born. For that reason, he was a resourceful pillar in Renoir’s early life. During childhood, his cousin introduced him to puppet shows that were held in their local town. In this regard, he mastered ways in which humans manipulated puppets.
In addition, he realised the value of masks in plays since it made the whole concert captivating. On the moral side of life, his cousin taught him the importance of living in an upright manner. In a way, he appreciated her and wished that they had met when they were old. This was contrary to his father’s wish to maintain the long hair. However, after he had joined the school, the school rules enabled him to shave removing the whole picture of a girl in him (Leavey 10).
In 1976, the National Film Theatre in England, honoured him for his impressive contributions in the filmmaking industry with a lifetime Academy Award. Following the recognition he received from England, France took an initiative to recognize him by elevating his Army rank from a lieutenant to a commander. In this case, his son served in his position while his three grandchildren were enrolled in the Army Academy.
On February 12, 1979, Renoir passed away due to heart attack in his home at Beverly Hills, California. This news shocked the film industry and most of his fans felt a loss in the industry. His body was taken back to France according to his wish. Later, he was buried beside his parents in Essoyes cemetery.
The legacy of Renoir is impressive, and it was initially experienced after his death. One of his friends and a fellow director wrote an article titled ‘Renoir, The Greatest of all Directors’ describing his contribution to the film industry. In addition, he elaborated on the unique traits that were attributed to Renoir, and for that reason, he was successful and famous in the industry. Other colleagues of Renoir also made their remarks concerning his character and contributions to the film industry.
To commemorate his significant contributions in the film industry, Hollywood made a star for him under the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In addition, several of his ceramics were assembled and taken to Barnes Foundation to honour his contribution. Some of the paintings of his late father were also assembled in Pennsylvania where the former’s ceramics were kept. All these contributions made by Renoir made him one of the most outstanding filmmakers in the film history.
The analysis of Renoir’s work illustrates the influence he had on other artists. Initially, having grown up in a family endowed with skills, he learnt from his family members how to be creative and innovative while making any artistic work.
Through this skill and knowledge, he was able to be influential on his acquaintances. At the start of filmmaking career, he began with first wife, his father’s model to make her a star. In the silent era, he made her one of the outstanding actress through adoption of various scenes witnessed in his father’s paintings. Following this, he steered other great artists to their potential (Gaunt 254).
Another influential issue addressed by Renoir in the film industry is the dynamism of the film market. From the silent era to the television technology, Renoir kept the pace of the changing needs of the audience. In this case, many artists have realised that it is critical to change with the changing trends of the market. In addition, over his lifetime, most of his films reflected the societal issues in a manner that was proactive or appreciative.
Through this initiative, he addressed multiple societal issues ranging from politics to economic issues. This can be witnessed in the movies that he directed that countered the actions of most political leadership. Regardless of the treats that he received over his production, he explored and fought for the rights of speech and association. In this regard, he sought for convenient places where he could give insights to the audience about the exploitation and mistreatments imposed by the royal on the peasants.
His counterparts gained wide experience and knowledge from his work. Renoir, a former soldier, who was able to venture into the film industry creating some impact on it, challenged most stakeholders in the industry. At the first time, most artists became renowned from the skills they acquired while serving for him.
This demonstrated his strong character and determination in the venture. Notably, it is essential to realise that although Renoir had financial challenges during the start of the venture, he still manoeuvred to its peak. In addition, he mentored many people to realise their full potential in the film industry.
The creativity depicted by Renoir in the movies challenged most artists in their careers. In this case, he reshaped the trend of the industry by incorporating both social issues and entertainment in industry. Moreover, he engaged in varied activities of artistic work such as screenwriting and writing memoirs. All these versatile works challenged other directors and filmmakers.
In conclusion, it is very important to appreciate the work of Renoir in both the film industry and social life. This will be illustrated by the explorative nature he portrayed by moving from France to other continents in the urge to realise his goals. Furthermore, current filmmakers can comprehend the efforts to be employed in the film industry to reach such heights.
To understand these virtues and traits, they will have to analyze the various works of Renoir. Although the film industry had no substantial returns like in the modern times, it is important to appreciate the works of Renoir since he invested all his time and resources on it. Through this process, the audience will receive the ultimate output from the film industry. In addition, current filmmakers will sustain the challenges experienced in the industry.
Works Cited
Druick, Douglas W., and Auguste Renoir. Renoir. Chicago, Ill.: Art Institute of Chicago ;, 1997. Print.
Gaunt, William. Renoir. 3rd ed., new enl. ed. Oxford: Phaidon, 1982. Print.
Grand Illusion (The Criterion Collection). Dir. Jean Renoir. Perf. Jean Gabin, Dita Parlo, Pierre Fresnay. Criterion, 1999. DVD.
Jean Renoir 3-Disc Collector’s Edition (Whirlpool of Fate / Nana / Charleston Parade / La Marseillaise / The Doctor’s Horrible Experiment / The Elusive Corporal). Dir. Jean Renoir. Perf. n/a. Lions Gate, 1931. Film.
Leavey, Thomas. “Renoir After impressionism.” Cultural Affairs 10.1 (2010): 1-10. Print.
The Rules of the Game. Dir. Jean Renoir. Perf. Nora Gregor, Paulette Dubost, Mila Parély. Mcgraw, 1939. Film.