The Gambler 1958
The Gambler (1958), directed by the visionary French filmmaker Claude Autant-Lara, plunges audiences into the dazzling yet perilous world of 19th-century Baden Baden, where the glittering façade of high society hides a darker underbelly of obsession and risk.
Director: Claude Autant-Lara
Cast
Gérard Philipe
Alexei Ivanovitch
Liselotte Pulver
Pauline Zagorianski
Françoise Rosay
Aunt Antonia
Jean Danet
Marquis des Grieux
Jean-Max
Director of the bank
Nadine Alari
Blanche de Cominges
Sacha Pitoëff
Afpley
Suzanne Dantès
Mrs. de Cominges
Paul Esser
Julien Carette
Bagdovitch
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Gambler (1958) about?
Set in 1866 Baden Baden, the film centers on Alexei Ivanovitch, a young Muscovite drawn into a dangerous game of gambling and intrigue when he's hired to care for the children of a compulsive gambler. As financial ruin and personal entanglements tighten their grip, Alexei must navigate a world where luck rules—and consequences are inescapable.
Who directed The Gambler?
Claude Autant-Lara, a celebrated French director known for his sharp social critiques and visually rich storytelling, helmed The Gambler (1958).
Who stars in The Gambler?
The film features Gérard Philipe as Alexei Ivanovitch, Liselotte Pulver as Pauline, and Françoise Rosay as a key matriarchal figure, alongside Jean Danet and Nadine Alari in pivotal roles.
Is The Gambler (1958) worth watching?
Though unrated on IMDb, The Gambler (1958) is a compelling drama with rich themes of addiction, fate, and moral decay. Gérard Philipe's magnetic performance and Autant-Lara's direction make it a rewarding watch for fans of classic European cinema with depth and atmosphere.
How long is The Gambler?
The Gambler (1958) runs for 97 minutes.
About The Gambler (1958) — A High-Stakes Drama of Obsession and Chance
The Gambler (1958), directed by the visionary French filmmaker Claude Autant-Lara, plunges audiences into the dazzling yet perilous world of 19th-century Baden Baden, where the glittering façade of high society hides a darker underbelly of obsession and risk. Crafted as a masterful drama, the film follows the cunning and brooding Alexei Ivanovitch, a young Muscovite swept into the intoxicating whirlwind of gambling, love, and moral decay. Gérard Philipe delivers a powerhouse performance as Alexei, whose sharp wit and restless soul become ensnared in a web of debt, desire, and deception spun by the manipulative Marquis de Grieux and the ailing General Zagorianski.
Liselotte Pulver shines as Pauline, the General's sister whose fate is bound to the reckless gamblers around her, while Françoise Rosay lends gravitas as the formidable matriarch of the family. With each spin of the roulette wheel and hand of cards, the stakes rise—not just for Alexei's fortune, but for his very humanity. The Gambler (1958) is a timeless exploration of addiction, morality, and the intoxicating allure of chance, all wrapped in the opulent yet suffocating atmosphere of a bygone era's playground for the desperate and the dreamers.
