Le Joueur (1958)
Directed by Claude Autant-Lara

Film Synopsis

In the mid-19th century, Baden-Baden is not only a popular resort for the rich, it is also one of the gambling capitals of Europe.  Alexei Ivanovitch has just arrived here from Moscow to take up the position of private tutor to the children of General Zagorianski.  Alexei finds himself repelled and fascinated by the decadence that surrounds him, and he is surprised to learn that his employer has practically ruined himself through his addiction to gambling.  The general now owes his lavish lifestyle to the Marquis des Grieux, who supports him financially in the hope that he can marry his daughter Pauline.  Grieux is gambling that the latter will one day inherit a vast fortune from her wealthy aunt, Antonina.  He soon acquires a romantic rival in the penniless Alexei, who falls in love with Pauline the moment he sees her.

Unable to contain his passion, Alexei confronts the object of his desires and asks her to marry him.  Pauline is too proud to take a virtual pauper as a husband, so she rewards his unwanted attentions with the coldest of rejections.  Devastated, the young man seeks the distraction of the casino, and begins gambling with the small amount of money he has.  To his surprise, his luck appears to be in and his winnings soon mount up.  It is at this point that Aunt Antonina shows up and begins amusing herself at the gambling tables.  Unfortunately, she seems to have left her luck behind in Moscow.  Within no time, the old woman has gambled away her entire fortune.

Now that Grieux has no need of them, he ends his association with Zagorianski and his daughter.  Realising that all is not lost, Pauline returns to Alexei, her attitude towards him now altered since he has become a fabulously wealthy man.  Alexei cannot bring himself to forgive the people who treated him so contemptuously when he was a poor tutor, so he repays Pauline's earlier rejection of him by offering her the same treatment.  In despair, the young woman is driven to kill herself.  The wheel of fortune has made Alexei rich beyond his wildest dreams, but poorer than he could ever have imagined...