A Little-Known Masterpiece

For those who think that post-war British film is a matter of John Mills, stiff upper lips and a certain stylistic aridity, 'The Queen of Spades' is a refreshing revelation. Directed by Thorold Dickinson, who later became this country's first Professor of Film, it is a baroque tour de force that is both visually rich and aurally adventurous. The acting is fascinating, too; in particular, Anton Walbrook's performance is theatrical in an almost silent film manner, but very eloquent for all that. Dickinson made very few films, but he was a master; his version of 'Gaslight', also starring Walbrook, is superior to the Cukor Hollywood version, although it is very hard to get hold of. This film can be recommended to anyone who is on the lookout for British film of the 1940s and 1950s that are genuine exercises in cinema, and not the usual cramped commercial efforts.