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The Queen of Spades (1949 film)

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sound effects; the recurring "frou-frou of the Countess's silk dress, the crispness of the snow, the wind in the dream, all go to make a sinister thrilling whole. Anton Walbrook is disappointing, in many places he is inaudible, and mouths his words in sibilant whispering. However, though it does not run as smoothly as other films directed by Thorold Dickinson, it is an outstanding and worthwhile production."
27: 71: 396:. Herman places his selected card face down on the table and bets on the ace—but when cards are shown, he finds he has bet on the queen of spades and loses everything. Showing compassion, Andrei escorts a very distraught Herman from the gambling table, who mumbles repeatedly "three, seven, ace … three, seven, queen". 379:
The countess (now very elderly) has a young ward, Lizaveta Ivanovna. Andrei, a military officer of noble birth and a friend of Herman, encounters Lizaveta in a bird market and decides to become her suitor. At the same time, Herman tries to seduce Lizaveta with love letters in order to persuade her to
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said: "This over-elaborate film, supercharged with all the tricks of cinematographic art, is beautifully acted by Edith Evans, whose performance is the saving grace of the drama, though the make-up artist has rendered her too artificial and frightening to be credible. Much good use has been made of
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purporting to tell the true stories of people who sold their souls for wealth, power or influence. One chapter of the book describes how in 1746 a "Countess R***" obtained the secret from the count and subsequently won a fortune from gambling. The countess had to promise not to disclose the secret.
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Herman attends the funeral of the countess, and is terrified to see the deceased open her eyes in the coffin and look at him. Later that night, Herman reads a chapter of his book entitled "The Dead Will Give Up Their Secrets". Subsequently, the ghost of the countess visits his apartment. The ghost
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Herman gains access to the house and accosts the countess, demanding the secret. He offers to assume her sin in exchange. He repeats his demands, but she does not speak. He draws a pistol and threatens her, and the old lady dies of fright. Herman then flees to the apartment of Lizaveta in the same
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Herman takes his entire savings to a gaming salon. When he arrives, Andrei challenges him to a duel. Herman accepts on condition that Andrei play a hand of faro with him; Andrei accepts. Herman bets all his savings on the three of spades and wins. Herman and Andrei agree on a second round, which
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said: "Vague and gloomy melodrama, or rather an essay in the necromantic. Not a kopek has been spared to establish correct atmosphere and detail, but the accent on art is a little too great. Whatever the highbrows may think of it, it is definitely not the masses' cup of vodka."
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Herman overhears gossip among several military officers about the aging Countess Ranevskaya, who knows the secret of winning at cards and won a large sum of money after selling her soul, several decades earlier in her youth. Later Herman purchases a book titled
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building. There he confesses to frightening the countess to death. He defends himself by saying that the pistol was not loaded. He escapes from the house with the aid of Lizaveta, who is disgusted to learn that his professions of love were a mask for greed.
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wrote: "Disappointingly slow-moving but splendidly atmospheric recreation of an old Russian story with all the decorative stops out; the chills when they come are quite frightening, the style is impressionist and the acting suitably extravagant."
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gave the film 4/5 stars, writing: "Director Thorold Dickinson creates what is generally regarded as his best film: a handsomely mounted and highly atmospheric ghost story which still chills the blood."
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noted "a most beautifully accomplished cast, exquisite baroque production and staging of a tense and startling sort. If it's romantic shivers you're wanting, this is undoubtedly your film."
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names the secret of the three cards (three, seven, ace), but orders him to marry Lizaveta as a condition. The next day Herman tries to reconcile with Lizaveta, but she again rejects him.
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let him into the countess's house. Andrei discovers Herman's advances, breaks off their friendship and warns Lizaveta that Herman is dangerous. Lizaveta rejects Andrei's warning.
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Lizaveta and Andrei celebrate their future happiness together by fulfilling Lizaveta's dream of purchasing every bird in the bird market and setting them all free.
1538: 1322: 1533: 1528: 1163: 557:, but was rediscovered and later re-released in British cinemas on 26 December 2009. It was released on Region 2 DVD in January 2010. 1523: 690:
Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 355.
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As of April 1950 the film earned distributor's gross receipts of £47,282 in the UK of which £17,678 went to the producer.
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Herman wins on the seven of spades. A third round is played. Herman spots the ace of spades in his hand in front of the
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that "this stunning film is one of the few true classics of supernatural cinema." Dennis Schwartz of
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David Quinlan rated the film as "good" and called it a "baroque chiller with richly decadent decor."
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rated the film an A−, calling it "a masterfully filmed surreal atmospheric supernatural tale".
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Please expand the article to include this information. Further details may exist on the
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reported that 96% of critics have given the film a positive review based on
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has described Thorold Dickinson as an underrated director, saying of
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and star Walbrook, caused him to be replaced at a few days notice by
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in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, using sets created by
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in 1806. He constantly watches the other officers gamble at
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Herman assumes "Countess R***" is Countess Ranevskaya.
1069: 355:Captain Herman Suvorin is a Russian officer of the 339:(in her cinematic debut). It is based on the 1834 373:The Strange Secrets of the Count de Saint Germain 38:about the film's theatrical releases, and legacy. 1460: 701:Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television 941:British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 612:British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 918:(7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 828. 711: 709: 1316: 1157: 699:Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', 706: 527:, who also rewrote sections of the script. 515:, with a script written by Arthur Boys and 1323: 1309: 1164: 1150: 1042: 773:"Tale of luckless director dealt bad hand" 643:ranked it as the sixth best British film. 69: 1077:"Festival de Cannes: The Queen of Spades" 913: 743:British Film Institute Collections Search 812:"The Queen of Spades | Film review" 809: 767: 765: 763: 761: 759: 938: 686: 684: 1461: 474:Maroussia Dimitrevitch as Gypsy singer 202:Associated British Picture Corporation 16:1949 British film by Thorold Dickinson 1539:Films produced by Anatole de Grunwald 1304: 1145: 756: 565: 1048: 810:Bradshaw, Peter (17 December 2009). 681: 637:, with an average rating of 8.4/10. 20: 1534:Films directed by Thorold Dickinson 1028:"100 Best British Films: Directors" 13: 1529:Films based on The Queen of Spades 507:The screenplay was adapted from a 14: 1580: 1098: 830: 665:BAFTA Award for Best British Film 492:as Herman's servant (final film) 25: 1524:British historical horror films 1020: 989: 961: 932: 907: 875: 843: 824: 803: 785: 731: 693: 1: 1569:English-language horror films 1544:Films scored by Georges Auric 1504:British black-and-white films 674: 663:The film was nominated for a 502: 1559:Films shot at Welwyn Studios 1514:British films about gambling 1484:1940s English-language films 997:"The Queen of Spades (1949)" 717:"The Queen of Spades (1949)" 658: 560: 509:short story of the same name 486:as young Countess Ranevskaya 341:short story of the same name 200:De Grunwald Productions for 75:Theatrical re-release poster 7: 1216:The Arsenal Stadium Mystery 895:(181): 61. 1 January 1949. 863:(2186): 17. 24 March 1949. 538:, from original designs by 10: 1585: 969:Radio Times Guide to Films 914:Halliwell, Leslie (1989). 545: 1429: 1402: 1343: 1180: 971:(18th ed.). London: 669:1949 Cannes Film Festival 667:and was entered into the 653:Ozus' World Movie Reviews 411:as Captain Herman Suvorin 300: 292: 284: 276: 266: 231: 208: 191: 169: 161: 151: 125: 115: 90: 80: 68: 63: 839:– via NYTimes.com. 833:"At the Little Cine Met" 703:, Vol 20 No 4, 2000 p489 216:Associated British-Pathe 973:Immediate Media Company 939:Quinlan, David (1984). 797:www.screenonline.org.uk 402: 350: 240:16 March 1949 1554:Films set in the 1800s 1499:1940s historical films 1379:(1949, United Kingdom) 1286:Hill 24 Doesn't Answer 916:Halliwell's Film Guide 417:as Countess Ranevskaya 251:30 June 1949 36:is missing information 1509:British fantasy films 1186:The First Mrs. Fraser 975:. 2017. p. 748. 903:– via ProQuest. 888:Monthly Film Bulletin 871:– via ProQuest. 831:C, B. (1 July 1949). 596:Monthly Film Bulletin 530:The film was shot at 553:was once considered 423:as Lizaveta Ivanovna 1564:Period horror films 1549:Films set in Russia 1519:British ghost films 1489:1940s fantasy films 1479:1940s British films 1446:The Queen of Spades 1438:The Queen of Spades 1411:The Queen of Spades 1392:The Queen of Spades 1384:The Queen of Spades 1376:The Queen of Spades 1368:The Queen of Spades 1360:The Queen of Spades 1352:The Queen of Spades 1336:The Queen of Spades 1266:The Queen of Spades 1128:The Queen of Spades 1117:The Queen of Spades 1106:The Queen of Spades 1081:festival-cannes.com 781:. 24 December 2009. 649:The Queen of Spades 551:The Queen of Spades 521:Anatole de Grunwald 459:as Princess Ivashin 312:The Queen of Spades 120:Anatole de Grunwald 64:The Queen of Spades 1236:The Prime Minister 1172:Films directed by 1049:Schwartz, Dennis. 945:B.T. Batsford Ltd. 837:The New York Times 719:. 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Dennis Schwartz 883:"Queen of Spades" 851:"Queen of Spades" 739:"Queen of Spades" 573:Writing in 1949, 525:Thorold Dickinson 513:Alexander Pushkin 345:Alexander Pushkin 325:Thorold Dickinson 308: 307: 222:Republic Pictures 98:Alexander Pushkin 85:Thorold Dickinson 59: 58: 1576: 1325: 1318: 1311: 1302: 1301: 1289: 1279: 1269: 1259: 1249: 1239: 1229: 1219: 1209: 1206:The High Command 1199: 1189: 1166: 1159: 1152: 1143: 1142: 1092: 1091: 1089: 1087: 1073: 1067: 1066: 1064: 1062: 1046: 1040: 1039: 1037: 1035: 1024: 1018: 1017: 1015: 1013: 993: 987: 986: 965: 959: 958: 936: 930: 929: 911: 905: 904: 879: 873: 872: 847: 841: 840: 828: 822: 821: 807: 801: 800: 789: 783: 782: 769: 754: 753: 751: 749: 735: 729: 728: 726: 724: 713: 704: 697: 691: 688: 636: 604:Leslie Halliwell 469:Aubrey Mallalieu 258: 256: 247: 245: 73: 61: 60: 54: 51: 45: 29: 21: 1584: 1583: 1579: 1578: 1577: 1575: 1574: 1573: 1459: 1458: 1457: 1452: 1425: 1398: 1371:(1927, Germany) 1339: 1329: 1299: 1294: 1246:The Next of Kin 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Index


talk page

Thorold Dickinson
Alexander Pushkin
Rodney Ackland
Anatole de Grunwald
Anton Walbrook
Edith Evans
Yvonne Mitchell
Otto Heller
Georges Auric
Louis Levy
Associated British Picture Corporation
Associated British-Pathe
Republic Pictures
fantasy
horror film
Thorold Dickinson
Anton Walbrook
Edith Evans
Yvonne Mitchell
short story of the same name
Alexander Pushkin
engineers
St Petersburg
faro
queen of spades
Anton Walbrook
Edith Evans

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