Period drama serial The Gambler was based on Dostoyevsky’s novel about a wealthy old gambling addict who quickly ruins herself at the gaming tables.
The ageing Dame Edith Evans took all the plaudits as Grandmamma though despite a cast that also included Corin Redgrave and Philip Madoc. Dame Edith had just turned 80 at the time of filming and had recently won the Golden Globes New York critics award for her role in the film The Whisperers.
The serial was filmed in colour.
Cast: EDITH EVANS as Grandmamma; MAURICE ROEVES as Alexei; PHILIP MADOC as Marquiz de Grieux; CORIN REDGRAVE as Mr Astley; LISA DANIELY as Mlle Blanche; GEORGINA WARD as Polina; GEORGE ROMANOV as Baron; FAY BURA as Baroness; ROSE POWER as Martha; JOHN PHILLIPS as The General; HARRY HUTCHINSON as Poptapych; MARY HUNTINGTON as Maria Fillipovna; CLAIRE MAINE as Mme de Cominges; TONY SOMERS as First Croupier; JOHN SLAVID as Second Croupier
WRITER: John Hopkins / NOVEL: Dostoyevsky /PRODUCTION DESIGN: Sally Hulke / PRODUCER: David Conroy /DIRECTOR: Michael Ferguson
UK / BBC Two / 2×45 minutes / 17-24 February 1968
