The Gambler (1949)

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Movie
German title The player
Original title The Great Sinner
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1949
length 112 minutes
Age rating FSK 16
Rod
Director Robert Siodmak
script Christopher Isherwood
production Gottfried Reinhardt
music Bronislaw Kaper
camera George J. Folsey
cut Harold F. Kress
occupation

The player (original title: The Great Sinner , alternative title: The Gamblers ) is an American literary film adaptation based on the novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky , which was directed by Robert Siodmak .

action

The film begins in Wiesbaden in the 1860s : Pauline Ostrowski receives the manuscript of the dying poet Fedja. He remembers how he fell in love with her on a train ride from Moscow to Paris and, contrary to his destination, got off in Wiesbaden to follow her. Here he learns that Pauline, like her father, General Ostrowski, is addicted to gambling . The general has already gambled away a fortune and is waiting for his rich mother to pass away and for the inheritance. Fedja stays to do a character study of the players. One of the players is Aristide Pitard. He steals money from Fedja. Fedja feels sorry for him and even gives him money so that he can leave town. However, Pitard continues to play, loses and kills himself out of desperation. Shortly before his death, he asks Fedja to return a medallion to its owner. Fedja finds out that the owner is Pauline, with whom he is now very in love. The general is against any connection with poor Fedya. The general tries to force a marriage between Armand de Glasse, the casino manager. The general hopes to be able to repay his enormous debts. Fedja also starts playing to pay the general's debts. After a streak of luck, there are significant losses. Fedja continues to play until he has lost everything and is on the verge of suicide . He begins to write and begs Pauline for forgiveness, who forgives him.

background

Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821–1881) wrote the novel The Gambler in 26 Days. The novel was published in 1866 and the author processed his own experiences and his own gambling addiction. The film flopped at the box office. MGM Records announced the film had grossed $ 1,179,000 in the United States and Canada. Overseas, he is said to have earned $ 862,000, making a total loss of $ 821,000.

In April 1948, Gregory Peck was signed for the lead role. In May 1948 Lana Turner could be engaged for the female lead. A week later it was announced that Ava Gardner would play the female lead. Turner had decided against the film shortly beforehand; the role that Melvyn Douglas played was offered to Kirk Douglas .

The player premiered in New York City on June 29, 1949 . The German premiere was on March 2, 1956.

Reviews

In a review in the New York Herald Tribune , the film was accused of spreading "pompous boredom". Also, the Time magazine criticized the film and accused him of having wasted a brilliant template. The evangelical film observer is also not enthusiastic: “A love film about a martyr among the players, freely based on Dostoevsky, but not in-depth despite promising approaches.” The lexicon of international films thinks it is a “[g] ically staged, but only film interested in the appearance of the original ”.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b The player. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed October 22, 2019 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used 
  2. ^ The Great Sinner (1949) - Notes. In: Turner Classic Movies . Retrieved June 1, 2015 .
  3. ^ The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
  4. ^ "Gregory Peck To Star In Second Baddie Role" by Sheilah Graham Westbrook . In: Bluefield Daily Telegraph , Apr 3, 1948, p. 12.
  5. ^ "Gregory Peck and Lana Turner to Make 'The Great Sinner'" by Louella O. Parsons . In: Syracuse Herald Journal , May 25, 1948, p. 22.
  6. ^ A b "Ava Gardner Replacing Lana Turner At Studio?" By Sheilah Graham . In: Bluefield Daily Telegraph , June 5, 1948, p. 6.
  7. ↑ "In Hollywood" by Erskine Johnson. In: Pampa Daily News , May 31, 1949, p. 6.
  8. ^ The Great Sinner (1949). In: AFI Catalog. American Film Institute , accessed October 22, 2019 .
  9. ↑ The player. In: filmportal.de . German Film Institute , accessed on October 22, 2019 .
  10. ↑ Quoted from: Margarita Landazuri: The Great Sinner (1949) - Articles. In: Turner Classic Movies . Retrieved October 22, 2019 .
  11. ↑ Evangelischer Presseverband München, Critique No. 226/1956.