Wonderful character development!

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Excellent but underrated film

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Although this British crime film is a slow moving quota quickie, it's worth watching thanks to the efforts of the central cast members, a number of whom were or would be famous in their time. It's one of those films that seems to have very little in the way of plot or relevance in the first half an hour, but gradually picks up to a generally fun if over the top climax.CHECKMATE concerns the activities of a rather dull family presided over by the ever-present Felix Aylmer as a rather stuffy old fellow. One of the daughters has a relationship with the slightly dodgy Donald Wolfit, noted Shakespearean star and renowned barnstormer. Meanwhile, a new lodger in the house (PLANET OF THE APES star Maurice Evans) is raising suspicion, with those indoors suspecting that he may not be who he says he is.Eventually via some low key events, all is revealed. This is an actor's film really, heavy on the dialogue but light on action. A little comedy relief would have made it more presentable, although that sped-up fight scene is laughable in itself.

This modest quota quickie boasts of no less than 3 distinguished actors and a pioneer director.Donald Wolfitt,Maurice Evans and Felix Aylmer in front of the camera and George. Pearson behind it.Aylmer is the fence for a gang of jewel thieves.He comes under suspicion from the police.Evans is a detective who becomes a boarder in his house to get Moe evidence.Summers daughter falls for Evans but then finds out about her father and the fact that Evans is trying to trap him.However she is persuaded by Wolcott,who is a gang member,to put a sleeping powder in his drink.This enables a robbery to go ahead without hindrance.Aylmer and Wolfitt fall out,Evans awakes and fights WolfittAylmer is shot accidentally.Evans gets the criminals and calls the Yard.