THE MOVIEGOER

People in Pushkin's time were undoubtedly impressed by such Baroque elements of horror as waxen images, howling mastiffs, voices from the tomb, and winking corpses. Today's movie audiences, a comparatively cynical lot, realize that these are simply props and studio effects. Nevertheless, when they turn up in "The Queen of Spades," they are done well enough to cause several genuine shudders.

Pushkin's tale deals with a young Russian officer who is looking for the secret of success at cards. The time is the early 19th century, at the height of the great Russian faro craze. The officer, played by Anton Walbrook in this British adaptation, is a very intense young man who believes in "taking life by the throat" to get what he wants. In the process of taking life by the throat, the officer delves into black magic, frightens a mysterious old countess to death, and eventually goes mad.

It is difficult to believe that anyone, even an early 19th century Russian, would wait for his sweetheart outside her home for what appears to be a period of one week. If you accept the premise that such behavior is normal, you are bound to wonder what will happen when she finally does come out. The film consists almost entirely of such bizarre situations, which are interesting in spite of themselves.

Walbrook's acting is suitably romantic, complete with palsied gestures and tremblings of the nether lip. However, he is addicted to the phrase, "I luff you," which sounds ludicrous in spite of the fact that Pushkin may have written it. Dame Edith Evans plays the elderly countess with great attention to realistic detail, and Yvonne Mitchell is highly attractive as Walbrook's inamorata.

The photography and production are both excellent. "The Queen of Spades" will hold your interest, even if you suffer from a nagging feeling that the entire business is slightly silly.