The Queen of Spades
- 1949
- 1h 35m
An army officer becomes obsessed with learning the secret to a card game for which an elderly countess sold her soul years earlier.An army officer becomes obsessed with learning the secret to a card game for which an elderly countess sold her soul years earlier.An army officer becomes obsessed with learning the secret to a card game for which an elderly countess sold her soul years earlier.
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
- 3 nominations total
- Countess's Lover
- (as Yusef Ramart)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe studio was right beside a train line and very badly sound-proofed. They had to post a man on the studio roof to watch out for trains so filming could be suspended while the trains went past.
- Quotes
Capt. Herman Suvorin: [he surprises the Old Countess] Don't cry out! Don't be alarmed, please, don't be alarmed. I don't mean you any harm. I've come to ask a favour of you. That's all. A favour. It'll cost you nothing. But to me, it will bring happiness for the rest of my life. I want the secret of the cards. That's all. Come, what is it? The three cards. The names of the three cards. Please! Oh, it's no use pretending you don't know anything about it. I know you were given the secret. And I know who gave it to you. Please! Just think those three words aloud. And I'll trouble you no more. I'll go. What good is the secret to you? For whom are you keeping it? For your grandson? He's rich enough. What would another fortune mean to him, a wastrel and a spendthrift? But I'm not a man of that sort. I know the value of money. I could do great things, I tell you. Great things! If only I had money.
Capt. Herman Suvorin: [sinking to his knees, he continues] For the love of God! If you've any human feeling in your breast, you can't refuse me. I beg. I beseech you. I know why you won't speak. The secret is connected with some terrible sin. That's it, isn't it? I'll make a bargain with you; tell me your secret and I'll take your sin upon my soul. Do you hear me? I mean it. A bargain. I'll take your sin upon my own soul. Oh, speak! Speak to me! You old sphinx.
Capt. Herman Suvorin: [he brandishes a pistol and continues] By God, I'll make you. I ask for the last time, are you going to tell me the secret of the cards? Or are you not?
- Crazy creditsThe opening credits, rather than simply reading "Screenplay By", "Music By", "Director of Photography", etc., as in most films, read "The Screenplay By", "The Music By", "The Director of Photography", "The Art Director", etc.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Letter from Siberia (1958)
The story is based on Alexander Puschkin's novella, "The Queen of Spades (1834), about a young captain in the Russian army (Anton Walbrook), an outsider (because he's German) who secretly covets the wealth and position of his fellow officers. When he discovers that an aged countess has sold her soul to the devil in exchange for eternal fortune at the card table, he attempts to gain entry to the household by seducing the countess' naive ward, but his envy envy leads to the dowager's death, a loveless marriage, and Herman's descent into madness.
The production initially ran into some trouble with director Thorold Dickinson entering the project when a great deal of the pre-production was already done. With his limited resources and the inadequate sets and sound stage facilities of the Welwyn Studios, he incorporated as many camera, lighting and special effects as he could devise, and with good effect. The film looks great. Atmosphere in these kind of films is half the work, and they surely did a great job. The acting is somewhat stagy and highly stylized, but this was probably a common characteristic in British acting in those days, and I don't think of Anton Walbrook as a great actor, but the rest of the cast is fine, with Edith Evans in great form as the countess. All in all, not an undiscovered masterpiece, but a fine British chiller with a great period atmosphere.
Camera Obscura --- 8/10
- Camera-Obscura
- Nov 5, 2006
- How long is The Queen of Spades?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Pikova dama
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 35 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
Contribute to this page
![Edith Evans in The Queen of Spades (1949)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYTgzMGUzMmMtOWY1ZC00MzJjLWJmZjQtNDA1OWYxNTRjYWY1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTYzNTE3NDA@._V1_QL75_UX90_CR0,1,90,133_.jpg)