In Renoir’s first major sound film, an unhappily married middle-aged bank clerk (Simon) rescues a prostitute from a beating by her pimp. The tragicomic love triangle that ensues—replete with obsession, exploitation, and physical and psychological violence portrayed in an amoral world—was so controversial that La Chienne wasn’t shown in the United States until 1975. Extensive camera movement, a perversely upbeat ending, and rich characterization demonstrate the sensibility of a director who would be embraced decades later as an auteur celebrated for his unique visual style, humor, and unconventional depiction of humanity.