''Checkmate'' is a 1935 British crime film directed by George Pearson and starring Maurice Evans,

Felix Aylmer Sir Felix Edward Aylmer Jones (21 February 1889 – 2 September 1979) was an English stage actor who also appeared in the cinema and on television. Aylmer made appearances in films with comedians such as Will Hay and George Formby. Early life ...

and Evelyn Foster. It was written by Basil Mason based on a novel by Amy Kennedy Gould.

Plot

Phillip Allen is

Scotland Yard Scotland Yard (officially New Scotland Yard) is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, the territorial police force responsible for policing Greater London's London boroughs, 32 boroughs. Its name derives from the location of the original ...

detective, hunting down a gang of jewel thieves in London. After they are captured, he marries the gang leader's daughter.

Cast

* Maurice Evans as Phillip Allen *

as Henry Nicholls * Evelyn Foster as Mary Nicholls *

Sally Gray Constance Vera Browne, Baroness Oranmore and Browne (''née'' Stevens; 14 February 1915 – 24 September 2006), commonly known as Sally Gray, was an English film actress of the 1930s and 1940s. Her obituary in ''The Irish Times'' described he ...

as Jean Nicholls *

Donald Wolfit Sir Donald Wolfit (born Donald Woolfitt; 20 April 1902 – 17 February 1968) was an English actor-manager, known for his touring productions of Shakespeare. He was especially renowned for his portrayal of King Lear. Born to a conventional midd ...

as Jack Barton *

Wilfrid Caithness Wilfrid Caithness or Wilfred Caithness (1883–1954) was a British stage and film actor. He played the role of Sebastian Moran in the 1935 film ''The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes''.Reid p.163 Selected filmography * '' A Voice Said Goodnight '' (19 ...

as Inspector Smith *

Percy Walsh Percy Walsh (24 April 1888 in Luton, Bedfordshire – 19 January 1952 in London) was a British stage and film actor. His stage work included appearing in the London premieres of R.C.Sherriff's '' Journey's End'' (1928) and Agatha Christie's ''And ...

as Mr. Curtail *

Ernest Jay Ernest Jay (18 September 1893 – 8 February 1957) was a British actor. Selected filmography * '' My Lucky Star'' (1933) - Press Agent * ''Tiger Bay'' (1934) - Alf * '' The Iron Duke'' (1934) - First Orderly * '' The Phantom Light'' (1935) ...

as Huntly * John Buckmaster as Mike Doyle

Production

The film was made at Boreham Wood Studios.

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 until April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those wi ...

'' wrote: "The story is convincing and moves but it is clumsily developed. Comedy and romance are adequately handled. Characterisation and acting are good; Maurice Evans makes the most of his part. The dialogue is uneven." ''

Kine Weekly ''Kinematograph Weekly'', popularly known as ''Kine Weekly'', was a trade paper catering to the British film industry between 1889 and 1971. Etymology The word Kinematograph was derived from the Greek ' Kinumai ', (to move, to be in motion, to ...

'' wrote: "An unpretentious essay in crime, this picture misses the boat because of unimaginative treatment. The story is not at all bad, it can honestly lay claim to invention, nor is the acting: but poor direction, resulting in frequent ridiculous emphasis of the obvious, seriously damages dramatic effect. Unsolicited laughs put the picture low down in the supporting feature category. A quota booking for the unsophisticated."

References

External links

* {{George Pearson 1935 films Films directed by George Pearson 1935 crime films Films produced by Anthony Havelock-Allan British crime films Quota quickies Films set in London 1930s English-language films British black-and-white films British and Dominions Studios films Films shot at Imperial Studios, Elstree 1930s British films English-language crime films