The Gambler *** (1997, Michael Gambon, Jodhi May, Polly Walker, Dominic West, Luise Rainer) – Classic Movie Review 2027

Director Károly Makk’s 1997 film adaptation of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s classic novella The Gambler stars Michael Gambon as the Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Jodhi May, Polly Walker and Dominic West as the obsessively addicted gambler Alexei.

Its fresh take is to concentrate on telling the story of the author and portraying some of the characters significant to his life and writings, especially his secretary Anna (Jodhi May), who is seen penning his manuscript for him.

The well-cast Gambon and May both impress, but the film is most remarkable as providing one last chance for the 87-year-old double Oscar-winner Luise Rainer to shine as Grandmother.

Dostoyevsky’s classic novella is also the basis of Karel Reisz’s 1974 film with James Caan and the 2014 movie with Mark Wahlberg.

With The Great Ziegfeld (1936) and the 1937 epic drama The Good Earth, Rainer triumphed as the first person to win back-to-back Academy Awards. She died on Tuesday 30 December 2014 of pneumonia at the grand old age of 104. Only four other actors have since match this feat.

Born in Düsseldorf, Germany, Rainer ended her brief glorious Hollywood film career with Hostages in 1943 and then spent most of her life in England. She made the occasional film and TV appearances, including a 1984 episode of The Love Boat. The Gambler is her last film role.

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© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 2027

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