IMDb > The Queen of Spades (1949)

The Queen of Spades (1949) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.5/10   331 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 20% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Thorold Dickinson
Writers:
Rodney Ackland (writer) and
Arthur Boys (writer) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Queen of Spades on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
30 June 1949 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Horror more
Plot:
An elderly countess strikes a bargain with the devil and exchanges her soul for the ability to always win at cards... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. more
User Comments:
Good plot, stretched over too long a running time more (19 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Anton Walbrook ... Capt. Herman Suvorin
Edith Evans ... The Old Countess Ranevskaya
Yvonne Mitchell ... Lizaveta Ivanova
Ronald Howard ... Andrei
Mary Jerrold ... Old Varvarushka
Anthony Dawson ... Fyodor
Miles Malleson ... Tchybukin
Michael Medwin ... Hovaisky
Athene Seyler ... Princess Ivashin
Ivor Barnard ... Bookseller
Maroussia Dimitrevitch ... Gypsy singer
Violette Elvin ... Gypsy dancer
Pauline Tennant ... Young countess
Jacqueline Clarke ... Milliner's assistant
Josef Ramart ... Countess' lover (as Yusef Ramart)
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
USA:95 min
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Colour:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Iceland:L | West Germany:12 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12
Filming Locations:
Welwyn Studios, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England, UK
Company:
De Grunwald Productions more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Pauline Tennant worked 14 days. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Lettre de Sibérie (1957) more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful.
Good plot, stretched over too long a running time, 28 July 2009
6/10
Author: The_Void from Beverley Hills, England

I've waited a long time to see this film, and now after finally tracking down a copy; I have to say, unfortunately, that I have only been setting myself up for disappointment. I'm also really surprised to read all the favourable reviews that the film has gotten. The Queen of Spades is very much of the 'slow burn' variety; and like the classics produced by Val Lewton, relies mostly on it's atmosphere and story to keep things interesting - and that is really where the film falls down. The basis for the story is actually really good, and is based on a Russian short story by Alexander Pushkin. The story focuses around a very simple card game that was very popular around the time in which the film is set. An army officer, fanatical about cards; but not wealthy enough to play himself, hears about an elderly countess who apparently sold her soul to the devil in return for the ability to always win at cards. The officer then endeavours to track down the old countess in order to learn her secret so he too can win at cards.

The film is based on a short story; and therein lies the problem with it. Basically what we get is a very thin sliver of plot stretched over ninety five minutes; thus meaning two thirds of the film is boring. The film is very slow for the first two thirds (and peppered with 'filler' dancing scenes) and I started to lose interest at several points as it seems to take forever to get to the point. The film does finally pick up in the final third; and although by then I could have cared less, it has to be said that the film does become rather interesting. The story is rather original too; despite the obvious 'selling a soul to the devil' theme. The idea of selling your soul to the devil will always be intriguing no matter how many times it is done; but this film doesn't even capitalise on that as it's not often mentioned. Curiously, neither is the mechanics of the central card game (although that's not surprising considering how simple it is!). I think that if the director had opted to cut out all the filler and trim the running time down to around sixty minutes, then the film could have been a classic. Unfortunately, it's just an overlong horror film with a few redeeming values.

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