The Queen of Spades

Dir: Thorold Dickinson | UK | 1949 | 96 mins + intro 1 min. | HD Digital

"An exotic, fascinating film." ∗∗∗∗
Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

ICO and Optimum Releasing are proud to present a special re-issue of Thorold Dickinson's classic supernatural drama The Queen of Spades, not seen in British cinemas since its original release in 1949.

The Queen of Spades is truly a lost gem of British cinema from much admired director Thorold Dickinson (Gaslight, High Command).

It is 1806, Imperial Russia and St Petersburg is in the grip of gambling fever. No card strikes more fear in to the hearts of the soldiers than the evil Queen of Spades. Captain Herman Suvorin (Anton Walbrook) is a lowly German engineer: an outsider obsessed with making his fortune, whose peculiar manner isolates him from the revelries of the other bawdy soldiers. He is intrigued, though, by the soldiers' gossip that tells of the legend of an ancient Countess (Dame Edith Evans), who supposedly sold her soul to the devil years before in exchange for the secret of success at the card game de jour: Faro.

The Queen of Spades is a wonderfully evocative and sinister drama, made at Ealing Studios by one of the most underrated of British directors: Thorold Dickinson, who throughout his career refused to compromise his artistic integrity in the face of commercial pressures. A raft of memorable performances are crowned by Anton Walbrook, as the soldier driven insane by his lust for success and fortune, and Dame Edith Evans as the bitter and twisted old Countess who gave away her soul for a short-lived salvation.

Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese is one of the film's most vociferous supporters and he has kindly recorded a brief introduction to the film which will be seen by audiences before each screening of the film during its theatrical run.

"An underseen treasure from the perpetually-underrated British master Thorold Dickinson." ∗∗∗∗
Tim Robey, The Telegraph

"…marvellously creepy Gothic romance" ∗∗∗∗
The Independent

"Pushkin's marvellously histrionic tale of cupidity and terrible vengeance gets a suitably wild-eyed treatment in Thorold Dickinson's 1949 film." ∗∗∗∗
Nina Caplan, Time Out