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IMDbPro

Checkmate

  • TV Series
  • 1960–19621960–1962
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
282
YOUR RATING
Sebastian Cabot, Anthony George, and Doug McClure in Checkmate (1960)
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Mystery
Don Corey and Jed Sills operate Checkmate, Inc., a very high priced detective agency in San Francisco. Helping them protect the lives of their clients is British criminologist (once an Oxfor... Read allDon Corey and Jed Sills operate Checkmate, Inc., a very high priced detective agency in San Francisco. Helping them protect the lives of their clients is British criminologist (once an Oxford professor) Carl Hyatt.Don Corey and Jed Sills operate Checkmate, Inc., a very high priced detective agency in San Francisco. Helping them protect the lives of their clients is British criminologist (once an Oxford professor) Carl Hyatt.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
282
YOUR RATING
  • Creator
    • Eric Ambler
  • Stars
    • Anthony George
    • Doug McClure
    • Sebastian Cabot
Top credits
  • Creator
    • Eric Ambler
  • Stars
    • Anthony George
    • Doug McClure
    • Sebastian Cabot
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Episodes70

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Photos86

    Buddy Ebsen and Paul Carr in Checkmate (1960)
    Susan Kohner and Warren Parker in Checkmate (1960)
    Oscar Beregi Jr. in Checkmate (1960)
    Ellen Burstyn in Checkmate (1960)
    Macdonald Carey and Kathleen Crowley in Checkmate (1960)
    Don Taylor in Checkmate (1960)
    Bethel Leslie and Dan O'Herlihy in Checkmate (1960)
    Sebastian Cabot, Tod Andrews, James Hong, and Doug McClure in Checkmate (1960)
    Celeste Holm in Checkmate (1960)
    Suzanne Lloyd and Tom Reese in Checkmate (1960)
    Dana Andrews and Lori March in Checkmate (1960)
    James Coburn, Nick Adams, and Alan Napier in Checkmate (1960)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Anthony George
    Anthony George
    • Don Coreyas Don Corey
    70 episodes70 eps • 1960–1962
    Doug McClure
    Doug McClure
    • Jed Sillsas Jed Sills
    70 episodes70 eps • 1960–1962
    Sebastian Cabot
    Sebastian Cabot
    • Dr. Carl Hyattas Dr. Carl Hyatt
    70 episodes70 eps • 1960–1962
    Ken Lynch
    Ken Lynch
    • Lt. Thomas Brandas Lt. Thomas Brand
    8 episodes8 eps • 1960–1961
    Jack Betts
    Jack Betts
    • Chris Devlinas Chris Devlin
    6 episodes6 eps • 1961–1962
    Donna Douglas
    Donna Douglas
    • Barbara Simmonsas Barbara Simmons
    4 episodes4 eps • 1961
    Barney Phillips
    Barney Phillips
    • Capt. Hollandas Capt. Holland…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1961
    Ed Nelson
    Ed Nelson
    • Carsonas Carson…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1961–1962
    Jeane Wood
    • Maidas Maid…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1961–1962
    Norman Leavitt
    Norman Leavitt
    • Bus Driveras Bus Driver…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1961–1962
    Tyler McVey
    • Marine Majoras Marine Major…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1960–1962
    Richard Conte
    Richard Conte
    • Manuel Alvarezas Manuel Alvarez…
    2 episodes2 eps • 1960–1962
    Diana Lynn
    Diana Lynn
    • Joan Emersonas Joan Emerson…
    2 episodes2 eps • 1961
    Susan Oliver
    Susan Oliver
    • Gloria Kenyonas Gloria Kenyon…
    2 episodes2 eps • 1961–1962
    Julie Adams
    Julie Adams
    • Janet Evansas Janet Evans…
    2 episodes2 eps • 1960–1962
    Tod Andrews
    Tod Andrews
    • Dr. James Lowas Dr. James Low…
    2 episodes2 eps • 1960–1962
    Ilka Windish
    • Maria Richardsas Maria Richards…
    2 episodes2 eps • 1960–1962
    Henry Jones
    Henry Jones
    • Ed Thurstonas Ed Thurston…
    2 episodes2 eps • 1960–1961
    • Creator
      • Eric Ambler
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Connections
      Featured in CBS Fall Preview Special: Seven Wonderful Nights (1961)

    User reviews9

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    This is how a TV detective show should be
    During the early 1960's, the series "77 Sunset Strip" (one of my favorites...) spawned a rash of hip detective knockoffs, many of them from the same studio, Warner Brothers, several more from other studios. Surprisingly, Revue Studios, known mainly for its cookie-cutter formulaic dramas, came up with one that stood head and shoulders from the rest of the imitators, and was an original in its own right. "Checkmate" is the name of a detective agency in San Francisco with an unusual twist: not just content to protect their clients, their aim is to prevent the crimes before they start. The approach is like a game of chess, hence the name, "Checkmate".

    First and foremost, "Checkmate" strayed from the pretty-boy lighthearted mysteries, and settled for taut, intelligent, serious cases with a noir fashion. The fact that famed mystery writer Eric Ambler created the show speaks for itself. Plus, while "77 Sunset Strip" relied on Warners' stock company of character actors and rising young stars, "Checkmate" had the ability and the budget to include major big guest stars like Joan Fontaine, Peter Lorre, Mickey Rooney, David Janssen, Harry Guardino, Julie London, etc., giving it a sheen of class denied the other imitators.

    The regular cast contained no slouches. The recently deceased Anthony George played Checkmate's deep-voiced head honcho Don Corey with more intensity than even the Strip's Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. Doug McClure played Jed Sills with a self-depreciating flair, playing off his obvious good looks; when "Checkmate" was canceled, McClure would pull it off again in the role of Trampas on "The Virginian". The real highlight here is the late, great Sebastian Cabot, playing the esteemed scientific consultant, Dr. Carl Hyatt, with a blend of haughtiness, exasperation, and intelligence; a blend that was put to good use (or waste, depending on how you see it) when he later took on his signature role as Mr. French on "Family Affair".

    And I also might add, the theme song wasn't a bouncy rock and roller like 77SS and the rest, but a tense, moody jazz instrumental by the legendary John "Johnny" Williams.

    If you can find "Checkmate" on DVD, which, sadly, is the only way you'll get to see this wonderful lost gem, I strongly recommend you pick it up. Compare it (and for that matter, "77 Sunset Strip") to the current wave of police procedurals on TV today. See which is better.

    "Checkmate" is a JaMco Production, financed by Jack Benny (yes, THE Jack Benny, who also did a guest spot here), and filmed by Revue Studios in Hollywood and San Francisco. 70 episodes were aired on CBS between 1960 and 1962.
    helpful•28
    1
    • blondiesguy2004
    • Aug 30, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 17, 1960 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ajedrez fatal
    • Filming locations
      • Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Jamco Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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    Sebastian Cabot, Anthony George, and Doug McClure in Checkmate (1960)
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