600:
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:
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
599:
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
375:
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.
387:
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
383:
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
391:
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
71:
590:
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."
772:
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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
384:
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.
606:
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."
626:
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."
582:
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.
380:
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.
399:
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.
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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.
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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
793:"BFI Screenonline: Queen of Spades, The (1949) Credits"
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Herman assumes "Countess R***" is Countess Ranevskaya.
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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.
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.
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699:Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account',
527:, who also rewrote sections of the script.
515:, with a script written by Arthur Boys and
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773:"Tale of luckless director dealt bad hand"
643:ranked it as the sixth best British film.
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1077:"Festival de Cannes: The Queen of Spades"
743:British Film Institute Collections Search
812:"The Queen of Spades | Film review"
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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
7:
810:Bradshaw, Peter (17 December 2009).
637:, with an average rating of 8.4/10.
1534:Films directed by Thorold Dickinson
1028:"100 Best British Films: Directors"
1529:Films based on The Queen of Spades
507:The screenplay was adapted from a
14:
665:BAFTA Award for Best British Film
492:as Herman's servant (final film)
25:
1524:British historical horror films
1:
1569:English-language horror films
1544:Films scored by Georges Auric
1504:British black-and-white films
663:The film was nominated for a
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)"
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
1216:The Arsenal Stadium Mystery
895:(181): 61. 1 January 1949.
863:(2186): 17. 24 March 1949.
538:, from original designs by
1585:
969:Radio Times Guide to Films
914:Halliwell, Leslie (1989).
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
68:
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
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:. BFI Screenonline
576:The New York Times
566:Critical reception
435:as Old Varvarushka
315:is a 1949 British
1494:1940s ghost films
1474:1949 horror films
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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
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85:Thorold Dickinson
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480:as Gypsy dancer
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447:as Tchybukin
433:Mary Jerrold
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323:directed by
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268:Running time
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1449:(Prokofiev)
1441:(2016 film)
1012:25 December
856:Kine Weekly
723:25 November
620:Radio Times
587:Kine Weekly
453:as Hovaisky
415:Edith Evans
333:Edith Evans
321:horror film
156:Otto Heller
138:Edith Evans
116:Produced by
108:Arthur Boys
81:Directed by
1469:1949 films
1463:Categories
1419:Pique Dame
1086:11 January
1034:14 October
943:. London:
925:0586088946
901:1305817589
869:2826314276
778:The Herald
748:30 October
675:References
635:24 reviews
503:Production
498:as Dimitri
490:Hay Petrie
301:Box office
272:95 minutes
255:1949-06-30
244:1949-03-16
193:Production
184:(director)
182:Louis Levy
91:Written by
1196:Java Head
1061:22 August
1055:Sover.net
659:Accolades
561:Reception
441:as Fyodor
429:as Andrei
357:engineers
259: (US)
162:Edited by
42:talk page
1338:" (1834)
1226:Gaslight
1007:Fandango
897:ProQuest
865:ProQuest
471:as Fedya
296:£232,500
285:Language
170:Music by
126:Starring
1430:Related
1422:(Suppé)
1131:at the
546:Release
317:fantasy
288:English
277:Country
253: (
242: (
195:company
100:(story)
1290:(1955)
1280:(1952)
1270:(1949)
1260:(1946)
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293:Budget
1403:Opera
1344:Films
1334:'s "
1111:IMDb
1088:2009
1063:2018
1036:2012
1014:2019
977:ISBN
949:ISBN
920:ISBN
750:2023
725:2012
617:The
555:lost
403:Cast
365:faro
351:Plot
335:and
224:(US)
218:(UK)
1135:'s
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