University of Virginia Library

'Game Is Over' Described As Good

"The Games Is Over." Times: 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 p.m. Today is the last day.

By Davis Howard

There is an increasing tendency
in motion pictures to regard life
as a game: "Virginia Wool!" developed
the trend and Roger Vadim
plays it to the hilt in "The Game
is Over."

Jane Fonda and Peter McEnery
deliver substantial performances
in the lead roles. Both of
them have grasped the depth that
the story conveys, and both of
them handle the quick pace of the
changing emotions with ease.

But the real laurels of "The
Game Is Over" fall to the technical
directors. Claude Renoir is a
genius. His setting is Paris in the
autumn, when France reaches the
height of its beauty and he handles
each scene as though he were creating
a painting. Mr. Renoir's colors,
his sense of balance, and his use
of light and distorted reflections,
are all superb.

The script by Jean Cau and
Roger Vadim, Miss Fonda's husband
and the director of the film,
seems to be weighted down with
symbolism but it is effective, nevertheless.
Mr. Vadim handles his
subject well in drawing very fine
performances from all the cast.

The plot of the movie follows
Emile Zola's novel, "La Curee."
Miss Fonda marries a French industrialist,
only to fall in love
with his son. However, the wife is
checked in her designs, and everyone
seems to lose, except the husband
and the audience.