Nana (1926)

For his second feature, Jean Renoir mounted an ambitious and lavish adaptation of the Émile Zola novel, with Catherine Hessling in the title role as the common-born and calculating actress who charms an unfortunate nobleman (Werner Krauss) into bankrolling a starring vehicle for her. However, after the play flops, she begins on a downward path littered with exploited lovers. Jean Angelo, Pierre Lestringuez, Claude Autant-Lara also star. 150 min. Standard; Soundtrack: music score; audio commentary; restoration comparison. Silent with music score.