The Queen of Spades Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

The Queen of Spades Blu-ray Movie Review

A worthwhile film hailed by Martin Scorsese (Kundun, Taxi Driver)

A period-drama with supernatural elements lingering beneath the surface of the storyline, The Queen of Spades is a haunting experience based upon the short story by the same name (as written by Alexander Pushkin). Produced by Anatole de Grunwald (Her Man Gilbey, Adventure for Two), Thorold Dickinson (The Next of Kin, Men of Two Worlds) directs with the required imagination necessary to bring the story to life. The cinematic experience is an unconventional one that weaves its tale with tragedy and intrigue in equal measure.

There is a eerie story rumored: a wealthy Queen is said to have bargained with the devil and sold her own soul in exchange for the acquisition of insurmountable wealth. Many wish to obtain the wealth and will do anything to acquire it for themselves. Captain Herman Suvorin (Anton Walbrook) is one such individual. The Captain becomes determined to learn how he can make his own fortune playing cards.

Hearing the tale of the woman who found fame and fortune by playing the game Faro, Herman sets out on a quest to learn the tricks of the trade for himself. Countess Ranevskaya (Edith Evans) is the elderly countess who made a fortune on cards with an expert hand in her firm grip. The countess also has a drop-dead-gorgeous ward by name of Lizavetta Ivanova (Yvonne Mitchell) and whom is courted by the captain during the course of the story.

One of the elements of the film which sets it apart from so many other productions out there is the fact that it manages to blend together some supernatural elements with ordinary period-drama aspects. The film has a number of flashback sequences (with optical effects used to great effect) and these scenes are interesting in their approach to the filmmaking and its foundation. The style utilized here is creative to see employed by cinematographer Otto Heller (Peeping Tom, The Ipcress File). The rich imagery is so evocative and dream-like at times that one can't help but be soaked up by the images and their richly woven black-and-white tapestry.

"Would you like to play a game of cards?"

The film has a superb music score composed by Georges Auric (The Wages of Fear, Roman Holiday) which is also a terrific accompaniment to the film and its often eerie tone. The score manages to be complimentary to the lead performances by the cast (while heightening the mood at play during so many key sequences) while never detracting from the story or bringing too much attention to itself. There's something remarkably impressive about that and it makes the score one of the film's most beneficial elements.

There is also an impressive production design element at play here: the art direction by William Kellner (Saraband, Kind Hearts and Coronets) showcases fantastic elements which resemble impressive stage-play components that are intrinsic to the experience. These are no ordinary examples of art direction to write off (rather, the efforts here are commendable). It's amazing to see such detailed designs at play.

Rodney Ackland (Thursday's Child, 49^th Parallel) and Arthur Boys (A Letter from Home, Lady Be Kind) wrote a screenplay that has some interesting concepts and characters that help to carry the story. I thought that script was successful in characterization but I must admit to feeling that the story is inconsistent and not as streamlined as it could have been. While the performances and production elements are top-notch, the screenplay could have used some work to further improve things.

Thorold Dickinson directs with a capable hand and the visuals of the film are often enchanting to see unfold before one's eyes. There is magic to Dickinson's style and the filmmaking simultaneously resembles that of a period-piece and that of a genre production. While The Queen of Spades never resembles a classic in every sense of the word, it's an effective film that has a number of impressive elements. Fans of classic cinema will certainly want to seek it out for some fantastic visuals, impressive performances, and the quality score by Georges Auric.

The Queen of Spades Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Blu-ray from distributor Kino Lorber presents The Queen of Spades with a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.37:1 full frame. The release has a reasonably impressive presentation but it falls short of perfection.

The film has some obvious age shown on the print and it did not receive a sparkling new remaster. The print has some obvious flaws with generally average black levels. The print has some sequences with optical effects which soften an already somewhat-underwhelming presentation. All told, it remains as an acceptable transfer that viewers will not find terribly offensive or disappointing but it certainly isn't a total home run either.

The Queen of Spades Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio mono soundtrack. The overall sound quality on the track was generally crisp and clear throughout while dialogue is easy to understand. Fidelity is not as strong as on a modern production but the quality is passable. There are no issue with hiss or crackling on the track to report. The score reproduction is certainly worthwhile and adds to the experience. This is a decent lossless audio mix that gets the job done.

The Queen of Spades Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by film critic Nick Pinkerton

Introduction by Martin Scorsese (SD, 1:25) is worth a watch for fans of the filmmaking hoping to gain some insights into the auteur filmmaker's impression on the film and it's lasting impact on him.

An Analysis by Film Critic/Author Philip Horne (SD, 19:31) delves into some detailed information about the development of the film and its behind-the-scenes history.

1951 Interview with Thorold Dickinson at the British Federation of Film Societies (Audio Only, 17:47)

1968 Screening Introduction by Thorold Dickinson (SD, 14:29)

The Queen of Spades Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2:51)

Trailers for other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: The Lodger (SD, 2:16) and The Undying Monster (SD, 1:05).

The Queen of Spades Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There are some fantastic elements at play in The Queen of Spades. It's almost as though the film is playing it's own game of cards and it has a (generally) fantastic hand. The direction and score are noteworthy while the script could have used a bit of extra polish. Nonetheless, a compelling film viewers will want to check out for it's blend of period-drama with the supernatural. The Blu-ray contains a decent presentation and a nice selection of extras. Recommended.