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Michael Gambon, Jodhi May, Polly Walker, Dominic West, Luise Rainer ... see more see more... , John Wood , Johan Leysen , Angeline Ball , Thom Jansen , William Houston , Mark Lacey , Patrick Godfrey , Lucy Davis

This British-Dutch-Hungarian biographical drama combines incidents from the life of novelist Feodor Dostoyevsky with a dramatization of his short novel The Gambler. The character of Polina in the nove... read more read more...l was based by Dostoyevsky on Polina Suslova, his 1862-63 lover. In the tradition of Dennis Potter, this film mixes fiction with reality, opening in 1870 with a woman and child seeking someone in a casino at the German resort of Baden-Baden. The story then leaps backward to 1866 St. Petersburg, where impoverished student Anna (Jodhi May) accepts a stenographic position with cantankerous 45-year-old Dostoyevsky (Michael Gambon), who lives with his epileptic stepson Pasha (William Houston). Dostoyevsky is writing serialized installments of Crime and Punishment. He has only 27 days to write a minimum of 160 pages on another novel for the publisher Stellovsky (Thom Jansen), who has covered his gambling debts. If Dostoyevsky doesn't meet this deadline, Stellovsky will acquire the rights to all of his current and future books. Anna quits but later comes back so she can pay for her father's funeral. In the process of getting Dostoyevsky's imagination to paper, Anna soon understands that The Gambler is autobiographical -- the tale of a young couple Polina (Polly Walker) and Alexei (Dominic West) at the casino in the fictional German resort Roulettenburg, where Alexei's gambling obsession has put him in debt. As the work on The Gambler continues, an attraction develops between the author and the secretary, and scenes from the work-in-progress are featured. In real life, Anna Grigoryevna Snitkina did indeed take shorthand on The Gambler, and she went on to become Dostoyevsky's second wife in 1867. Appearing as a gambling grandmother is movie veteran Luise Rainer. Scenes of St. Petersburg, Baden-Baden, and Roulettenburg were all shot in Hungarian locations. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

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54% liked it

547 ratings

Critics

14% liked it

7 critics

R, 1 hr. 37 min.

Directed by: Károly Makk

Release Date: August 4, 1997

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DVD Release Date: March 26, 2002

Stats: 18 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (18)

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Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz
January 28, 2003
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

There seems to be a lot missing in this shortened telling of the story within a story for it to be more than moderately effective. Full Review

Christopher Null
March 27, 2002
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

Makes little to no sense at all Full Review

Daniel Eagan
December 17, 2001
Daniel Eagan, Film Journal International

A polished but superficial period drama that fails to illuminate what could have been an involving story. Full Review

Derek Elley
June 17, 2008
Derek Elley, Variety

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July 21, 2005
Houston Chronicle

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April 25, 2003
Globe and Mail

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Leslie Camhi
November 13, 2001
Leslie Camhi, Village Voice

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Stephen Holden
November 13, 2001
Stephen Holden, New York Times

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Peter Stack
November 13, 2001
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle

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Stanley Kauffmann
November 13, 2001
Stanley Kauffmann, New Republic

No review available.

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The Gambler Trivia

  • In which movie does a former Mayor, an engaged couple, a single mother and her son, a gay architect, and a professional gambler survive a terrifying catastrophe on the water?  Answer »
  • Who played the high rolling gambler Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls?  Answer »
  • I've been a "Man without a face", played a lucky gambler, and have yelled the passionate plea, "Give me back my son!" Who am I?   Answer »
  • in the movie casino royal whats special about the gambler Bond plays poker against?  Answer »
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