It is 1806, and imperial St. Petersburg is in the grip of gambling fever. Each night Herman Suvorin, a poor Captain of Engineers, witnesses huge fortunes lost and won, though he dare not risk the money he has tirelessly earned and saved over these many years. But when he hears the wealthy and of course, beautiful, Countess Ranevskaya, who by selling her soul many years before obtained the secret of winning at cards, has come to town, he determines to find her and to wrest the secret from her. Nominated for Best British Film at the **BAFTA Awards**. Nominated for the Grand Prize at the **Cannes Film Festival**. *"Wild gypsy dancing, shadow lighting and an excellent musical score are well used for mood creation in this weirdly fascinating film." Bosley Crother, **The New York Times**