"The Great Sinner", an MGM feature of 1949 was an adaptation of "The Gambler" a novel by the great Russian writer Dostoievski. As conceived for the screen, it had all the elements for it to succeed. Yet watching it sixty years later, this effort directed by Robert Siodmak, a man who gave us many satisfying moments at the movies, gives the impression that perhaps he was the wrong man to have been at the helm.Fedja, a writer, meets the gorgeous Pauline Ostrovsky on a train bound for Paris. It becomes evident she has cast a spell on him. That attraction will appear to be fatal as this young man decides on a whim to abandon his plans and get off at Wiesbaden, Germany, Pauline's destination. Unknown to him, she is a gambler, and so is her father, a Russian nobleman, General Ostrovsky.Pauline is the object of the affection of Armand De Glasse, the owner of the casino in the city. What Fedja does not know is the way Pauline's connection to De Glasse is based on. She, and her father owe this man 200,000 francs, an enormous figure, in those days. Fedge, who is not into gambling decides to try his luck in the roulette table in order to win enough money to repay the Ostrovskys debt. That way, he figures he will be able to keep Pauline.As he starts to gamble, Fedja begins losing almost everything he brought, then, as if by magic, he goes to break the bank, making more than what is owed. But Fedja, unable to keep his head, and his purse, goes back for more, which proves to be his downfall. He ends up poor, destitute and sick, and what is more, he begins losing Pauline, as well.Gregory Peck, a good actor, is not at his best in the romantic lead of this film. Ava Gardner, a feast for the eyes, gives a flat performance. The two stars did not show a chemistry that one felt was believable. Most of the supporting cast, especially Frank Morgan and Walter Huston, practically overplay their parts. Even suave Melvin Douglas is not as effective as in other of his best creations. Ethel Barrymore and Agnes Moorehead, have some luck with their small time in front of the camera.Robert Siodmak will still be remembered for films like "Criss Cross", "Cry of the City" and "The Killers", among others, but alas, not for this one.

As Kirk Douglas's career was progressing nicely he had a choice of two different offers. He could play the title role in The Great Sinner, a big MGM film with a supporting cast of name players with Ava Gardner as a leading lady. Or he could do a small independent film for Stanley Kramer who was just starting out. Douglas chose the small film and wound up with an Oscar nomination for Champion. Which left Gregory Peck who was apparently a second choice to play the Russian writer who stops off at the gambling resort of Wiesbaden in the 1860s just before German unification. He's on his way to Paris, but one sight of Ava Gardner getting off at Wiesbaden, makes Peck decide to abruptly change his plans.As for Ava, certainly one can understand that she's beautiful enough to let one's hormones take over, but I got the feeling Ava just wasn't into the part really, as Greg was also not. It's also hard to believe that Walter Huston had won an Oscar for his previous film, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. To overcome a trite story, Huston overacts outrageously, pulling everything out of a ham's bag of tricks.Even Melvyn Douglas as the scheming casino owner takes his nineteenth century villainy from the Snidely Whiplash tradition. Agnes Moorehead as the old crone of a pawnbroker also indulges in some scenery chewing, her best example of that since Dark Passage.Best in the film in my humble opinion is Frank Morgan as the former mathematics professor and now addicted gambler. He brings a real aura of tragedy to his small role.The Great Sinner is a sluggishly paced film with a lot of very talented people just going through the motions. For a gambling story, I'll take Casino.Don't believe me, Wanna bet?

This little-known gem is well worth checking. The fantastic script by Christopher Asherwood (one of the enfants terribles of the english literature of the 20th century) has some of the finest and memorable lines of the classic cinema. Ava Gardner never been so gorgeous. One cannot help feeling disturbed as the events go on, and the film is somehow unusual for the time for its moral and the pessimism it portraits. Definetely, Robert Siodmark's best. The allegorical final scene surely added by the studio is a real pity. After all we've seen, one can hardly find any hope in that universe, with or without the interceeding of God.

This is a sumptuously-staged costume drama, the kind Hollywood always did so well. Only there's a dark side to "The Great Sinner", as the richness of the production begins to coexist with sordid tales of gambling addiction and related human tragedy that soon unfold. No one is immune here; even stolid Gregory Peck falls to the lure of the cards, and hard. Ethel Barrymore is subtly wonderful, as ever, and steals every scene. This becomes a powerful, suspenseful film with a fine cast and a relentless tale to tell. Not to be missed!