Le joueur/The Gambler (1958)

Le Joueur is French director Claude Autant-Lara's spin on the oft-filmed Dostoyevsky novel -The Gambler. Set in 19th century Baden-Baden, the film details the trials and tribulations of several chronic gamblers, foremost among them young Alevei (Gerard Philipe). In love with Pauline (Liselotte Pulver), the daughter of nearly-impoverished general Zagoriensky (Bernard Blier), Alevei tries to save Pauline from penury by instructing her in the ways of the gaming tables. Unfortunately, Alevei is too late to prevent Pauline from destroying herself, both figuratively and literally. The best-known cinemadaptation of the Dostoyevsky original was 1949's The Great Sinner, starring Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner.

Le General Zagorianski, joueur impenitent, a pratiquement englouti sa fortune dans cette passion. C'est un aristocrate francais qui pourvoit a ses besoins et tous attendent avec impatience la mort de la tante Antonia, qu'ils esperent imminente. Jeune homme candide, Alexei Ivanovitch, le precepteur des enfants du general, decouvre avec stupeur cet univers corrompu.

Director: Claude Autant-Lara
Stars: Gerard Philipe, Liselotte Pulver and Francoise Rosay
Production land: France, Italy
Premiere Date: 26 October 1958 France
IMDb - 6.3 (58 votes)