The game was his bane
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The game was his bane |
| Original title | Le joueur |
| Country of production | France , Italy |
| original language | French |
| Publishing year | 1958 |
| length | 97 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 16 (1958), later 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Claude Autant-Lara |
| script | Pierre Bost |
| production | Henry Deutschmeister |
| music | René Cloërec |
| camera | Jacques Natteau |
| cut | Madeleine Gug |
| occupation | |
| |
The Game Was His Curse is a French-Italian drama from 1958 directed by Claude Autant-Lara with Gérard Philipe and Liselotte Pulver in the lead roles. The story is based on the novel The Gambler (1867) by Fyodor Dostoyevsky .
action
Germany in 1867. The Russian Alexej Iwanowitsch earns his living as a tutor to a compatriot, the impoverished General Sagorianski, who is in Baden-Baden with his two young sons and his adult stepdaughter Polina . This family waits longingly for news from Moscow announcing the death of the old, hated aunt Antonia Wassiljewna. Your fortune, which would then go into the general's hands, could solve all of his financial problems. In addition, the inheritance would be a good argument for the calculating Mademoiselle Blanche, an adventurer, to marry the not exactly attractive general, and her blackmailing friend, the Marquis de Grieux, would no longer object to a wedding with Polina Sagorianski, the one with the unexpected A boon from Auntie's estate would suddenly turn out to be a good match. But when Alexej, who loves Polina more than anything, comes to Baden-Baden, he cannot bring the hoped-for news of the rich aunt's death with him. Instead he has to watch Polina fall for the sleazy marquis, who in turn maintains his relationship with the windy Blanche. Alexej tries to open Polina's eyes to her calculating entourage and to reveal the marquis's lack of character. But instead of convincing Polina, Alexej only loses his job with the general family.
A little later, Aunt Antonia, usually called "grandmother" by everyone, arrives in Baden-Baden, very lively. In search of the general, she ends up in the local casino, which has already ruined many a soldier of fortune, and finally at the roulette table. She immediately hired the now unemployed Alexej to accompany her. The aunt wins initially, but then falls for the game. Then she loses, first sells her securities and finally uses the last of the money from her travel budget. The roulette table turns to Auntie's downfall. But this is not the only catastrophe: The general suffers a fatal heart attack in the face of auntie's inheritance that has melted away at the roulette table, the fickle Blanche is looking for a new admirer, and Des Grieux, who had speculated in every respect and disdainfully dropped Polina, is preparing on his departure. Alexej tries his luck at the gaming table himself. With the courage of desperation he places the last louis d'or ... and wins. His lucky streak doesn’t stop, he has already won 20,000 Louisdors. The table is then closed, but as if in a delirium, Alexej continues to play the next. He almost seems to have fallen in love with gambling too - that's when he remembers Polina. With pockets full of money, he tears himself away from the gaming table and rushes to her hotel to become her love comforter.
Production notes
The filming of The Game Was His Curse dragged on from March 20 to May 17, 1958. The premiere took place on November 26, 1958 in Paris. The German premiere was on December 19, 1958.
Ralph Baum was the production manager. Max Douy designed the film structures, Rosine Delamare the costumes.
synchronization
| role | actor | Voice actor |
|---|---|---|
| Alexei Ivanovich | Gérard Philipe | Peer Schmidt |
| Polina Sagorianski | Liselotte powder | herself |
| Marquis des Grieux | Jean Danet | Heinz Dragon |
| Aunt Antonia Vasilyevna | Françoise Rosay | Lina Carstens |
| General Alexander Vladimir Sagorianski | Bernard Blier | Walter Klam |
| Blanche de Cominges | Nadine Alari | Marianne Kehlau |
| Bogdavich | Julien Carette | Alfons Teuber |
| Astley | Sacha Pitoëff | Herbert Weicker |
Reviews
In the Lexicon of International Films it says: “The social criticism intended in the novel fizzles out almost completely, with the exception of the excellent leading actor, the characters remain implausible. A meaningless cinematic picture book. "
Cinema-online found: "Despite the good cast ... the bite is missing."
Individual evidence
- ↑ Jean-Claude Sabria: Cinéma français. Les années 50. Paris 1987, no.486.
- ↑ The game was his curse in the German dubbing index .
- ↑ The game was his bane. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed June 1, 2020 .
- ↑ Short review on cinema.de.
Web links
- The game was his curse in the Internet Movie Database (English)