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Screen adaptation of Dostoyevsky done in an obvious, overblown style that wallows in melodramatics. The story details the sordid life of an aging general who lives high on the hog in 19th-century France while waiting for his elderly, rich aunt to die so he can claim her fortune. In the meantime, he cons a dim-witted French adventurer into providing his living expenses by offering his beautiful daughter as the Frenchman's mistress. Enter Philipe, the daughter's young tutor, who is in love with her and is determined to take her away from all this. Unfortunately for all concerned, the aunt lives long enough to be struck with gambling fever herself and she loses her fortune at the tables, causing the general's proud daughter to commit suicide. A superior version of this story is THE GREAT SINNER, starring Gregory Peck.