Obsession is a cruel and bitter thing. It makes one man break and another sing. So should be the rhyme that delivers to us THE QUEEN OF SPADES. Based on Alexander Pushkin short story, a psychological thriller about crippling obsession (how Russian…). It would be true to say that the film has been given a tremendous release from Studio Canal, filled with extras, a stunning restoration and the feeling that this is more than just another money making venture.

Countess Ranevskaya (Edith Evans), is an elderly rich woman. Rumour persists that she sold her soul to the devil after a liasion went not according to plan. So now faced with a tremendous debt, she bargins with the devil in order to always win at cards. Sounds like heaven to the gambler, it becomes a nightmare that ends in the furnace of hell. Captain Herman Suvorin (Anton Walbrook), a middling armory solider, who has dreams of becoming a Russian officer in the army, needs money to gain promotion. In his pursuit to find these monetary rewards he becomes obsessed with discovering if this story is true and if her secret could help him out in gaining the riches. Standing at the edge of the building to Ranevskaya, he finds that he becomes smitten with her beautiful young companion, Lizaveta Ivanova (Yvonne Mitchell). The evil obsession, leaves all in a dangerous place.

The press notes say ‘A breathtaking new restoration of Thorold Dickinson’s 1949 classic’, and they for once, say what it is and mean. This feels atmospheric. Layerred colours, textured images and a light balance par excellence. Maybe the best restoration of a British film in all my time reviewing (12 years as of today!) THE QUEEN OF SPADES however is much more than this great transfer. There is the usual expected, sublime commentary. This time provided by Pinkerton, who recounts everything worth knowing in an opinionated way. Scorsese speaks quickly and shortly on the films atmospheric and macabre feels. But the best bits are Thorold Dickinson interviews, which over time, develop a lot about the films production. Starting in 1951 as spirited and his coming on board in early shooting. The 1968 interview is more contained with him being more ambitious in talking on the films likeness to his more famous GASLIGHT. But the stand out is Saturday Night at the Movies, which starts and allows the viewer to then watch the film, then ends with everything needed to know about the films inspirations and realisations on release.

STUDIO CANAL, take a bow…

Extras:

• NEW – Anna Bogutskaya plays The Queen of Spades
• The Nightmare People: Thorold Dickinson on Saturday Night at the Movies
• Audio Commentary by Nick Pinkerton
• Introduction by Martin Scorsese
• Analysis of The Queen of Spades by Philip Horne
• Audio interview with Thorold Dickinson (1951)
• Audio Interview with Thorold Dickinson (1968)
• Behind the Scenes Stills Gallery
• Original Trailer