Checkmate(American TV series)
Checkmate | |
---|---|
Genre | Detective/Mystery |
Created by | Eric Ambler |
Directed by | Frank Arrigo Jules Bricken Herschel Daugherty Walter Doniger Robert Florey William A. Graham Tom Gries Douglas Heyes James Wong Howe Robert Ellis Miller Alexander Singer Don Taylor Don Weis |
Starring | Anthony George Sebastian Cabot Doug McClure |
Theme music composer | John Williams |
Composers | Marty Paich Pete Rugolo Morton Stevens John Williams Stanley Wilson |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No.of seasons | 2 |
No.of episodes | 70 |
Production | |
Producers | Richard Berg Herbert Coleman Joseph T. Naar |
Cinematography | Joseph F. Biroc Dale Deverman Ray Flin Lionel Lindon Fred Mandl John L. Russell Bud Thackery John F. Warren |
Editors | Howard Epstein Lee Huntington Tony Martinelli |
Running time | 60 mins. |
Production companies | JaMco Productions Revue Studios |
Original release | |
Network | CBS |
Release | September 17, 1960 September 1, 1962 | –
Checkmateis an Americandetective television seriescreated byEric Ambler,starringAnthony George,Sebastian Cabot,andDoug McClure.The show aired onCBS Televisionfrom 1960 to 1962 for a total of 70 episodes. It was produced byJack Benny's production company, "JaMco Productions" in co-operation withRevue Studios.Guest stars includedCharles Laughton,Peter Lorre,Lee Marvin,Mickey Rooneyand many other prominent performers.
Synopsis
[edit]The program chronicles the cases of the San Francisco detective agency called Checkmate, Inc. Don Corey and Jed Sills run the agency, which specializes in preventing crimes before they happen, from Corey's stylish apartment supposedly at 3330 Union Street. Sebastian Cabot portrays Dr. Hyatt, a college professor whom they employ as an adviser. Dr. Hyatt'sdachshund,Bismarck, occasionally appears.Ken Lynchis frequently seen as police dept. contact Lt. Thomas Brand.
Cast
[edit]- Anthony Georgeas Don Corey
- Sebastian Cabotas Dr. Carl Hyatt
- Doug McClureas Jed Sills
- Ken Lynchas Lt. Thomas Brand
- Jack Bettsas Chris Devlin
Notable guest stars
[edit]- Philip Abbottin "Trial by Midnight" (1962)
- Anna Maria Alberghettiin "Runaway" (1960)
- Julie Adamsin "Face in the Window" (1960)
- Dana Andrewsin "Trial by Midnight" (1962)
- Eve Ardenin "Death by Design" (1961)
- John Astinin
- "The Yacht Club Gang" (1962),
- "So Beats My Plastic Heart" (1962)
- Anne Baxterin "Death Runs Wild" (1960)
- Ralph Bellamyin "Portrait of a Man Running" (1961)
- Jack Bennyin "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Game" (1962)
- Charles Bickfordin "Target Tycoon" (1960)
- Bill Bixbyin "To the Best of My Recollection" (1961)
- Scott Bradyin "Voyage into Fear" (1961)
- Lloyd Bridgesin "The Two of Us" (1961)
- Ellen Burstynin "The Bold and the Tough" (1962)
- Cyd Charissein "Dance of Death" (1961)
- Sid Caesarin "Kill the Sound" (1961)
- James Coburnin "A Chant of Silence" (1962)
- Richard Contein
- "Moment of Truth" (1960),
- "An Assassin Arrives Andante" (1962)
- Joseph Cottenin "Face in the Window" (1960)
- Carolyn Craigin "Trial by Midnight" (1962)
- Norma Cranein "Hour of Execution" (1961)
- John Dehnerin "The Heat of Passion" (1961)
- Francis De Salesin "To the Best of My Recollection" (1961)
- Angie Dickinsonin "Remembrances of Crimes Past" (1962)
- Donna Douglasin "The Deadly Silence" (1961)
- Buddy Ebsenin "Side by Side" (1962)
- Norman Fellin "Hot Wind in a Cold Town" (1961)
- Joan Fontainein "Voyage into Fear" (1961)
- Ron Fosterin "The Mask of Vengeance" (1960)
- Beverly Garlandin "Between Two Guns" (1961)
- James Gregoryin "Hour of Execution" (1961)
- Peter Helmin "Rendezvous in Washington" (1960)
- Celeste Holmin "So Beats My Plastic Heart" (1962)
- James Hongin "In a Foreign Quarter" (1962)
- Clegg Hoytin "The Deadly Silence" (1961)
- Jeffrey Hunterin "Waiting for Jocko" (1961)
- David Janssenin "Ride a Wild Horse" (1962)
- Wright Kingas Jim Barker in "Portrait of a Man Running" (1961)
- Otto Krugerin "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Game" (1962)
- Martin Landauin
- "Moment of Truth" (1960),
- "Hot Wind in a Cold Town" (1961)
- Charles Laughtonin "Terror from the East" (1961)
- Cloris Leachmanin "The Mask of Vengeance" (1960)
- Julie Londonin "Goodbye, Griff" (1961)
- Jack Lordin "The Star System" (1962)
- Peter Lorrein "The Human Touch" (1961)
- Tina Louisein "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Game" (1962)
- Dorothy Malonein "The Heat of Passion" (1961)
- Scott Marlowein "Brooding Fixation" (1962)
- Lee Marvinin "Jungle Castle" (1961)
- Eve McVeaghin "A Very Rough Sketch" (1962)
- Tyler McVeyin
- "Deadly Shadow" (1960),
- "To the Best of My Recollection" (1961), and
- "Side by Side" (1962)
- Vera Milesin "The Crimson Pool" (1961)
- Gary Merrillin "A Matter of Conscious" (1961)
- Ricardo Montalbánin "Hot Wind in a Cold Town" (1961)
- Elizabeth Montgomeryin "The Star System" (1962)
- Mary Tyler Moorein "Lady on the Brink" (1960)
- Patricia Nealin "The Yacht Club Gang" (1962)
- Margaret O'Brienin "Deadly Shadow" (1960)
- Dan O'Herlihyin "Referendum on Murder" (1962)
- Susan Oliverin
- "The Thrill Seeker" (1961), and
- "So Beats My Plastic Heart" (1962)
- Eleanor Parkerin "The Renaissance of Gussie Hill" (1962)
- Walter Pidgeonin "Death Beyond Recall" (1962)
- Stuart Randallin "The Cyanide Touch" (1960)
- Tony Randallin "The Button Down Break" (1961)
- Madlyn Rhuein "Target Tycoon" (1960)
- Jimmie Rodgersin "Melody for Murder" (1961)
- Mickey Rooneyin "The Paper Killer" (1961)[1]
- Janice Rulein "The Mask of Vengeance" (1960)
- Barbara Rushin "The Dark Divide" (1960)
- George Sandersin "The Sound of Nervous Laughter" (1962)
- Dan Sheridanin "A Very Rough Sketch" (1962)
- Dean Stockwellin "Cyanide Touch" (1960)
- Olive Sturgessin "Brooding Fixation" (1962)
- Robert Vaughnin "Interrupted Honeymoon" (1960)
- James Whitmorein "Nice Guys Finish Last" (1961)
- Elen Willardin "Laugh Till I Die" (1961)
- John Williamsin "The Murder Game" (1960)
- William Windomin "Through a Dark Glass" (1961)
- Jane Wymanin "Lady on the Brink" (1960)
- Keenan Wynnin "A Slight Touch of Venom" (1961)
Production
[edit]Some exterior scenes were filmed[2][3]in San Francisco.[4][5]
Series star Anthony George left his recurring role as Federal Agent Cam Allison onThe Untouchables(starring Robert Stack), to front this series.
Episodes
[edit]Season 1 (1960–61)
[edit]No. overall | No.in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "Death Runs Wild" | Jules Bricken | Story by : John Kneubuhl Teleplay by : James Gunn & John Kneubuhl | September 17, 1960 |
2 | 2 | "Interrupted Honeymoon" | Herschel Daughterty | Michael Morris | September 24, 1960 |
3 | 3 | "The Cyanide Touch" | Don Weis | Stirling Silliphant | October 1, 1960 |
4 | 4 | "Lady on the Brink" | Frank Arrigo | Story by : Howard Browne Teleplay by : Howard Browne & Joel Murcott | October 15, 1960 |
5 | 5 | "Face in the Window" | Robert Florey | Story by : Leigh Brackett Teleplay by : Leigh Brackett & Harold Clements | October 22, 1960 |
6 | 6 | "Runaway" | Don Medford | Story by : Richard Nelson & Steve Fisher Teleplay by : James Gunn & Richard Nelson | October 29, 1960 |
7 | 7 | "Target: Tycoon" | Frank Arrigo | Story by : Johnathan Latimer Teleplay by : Robert Yale Libott | November 5, 1960 |
8 | 8 | "Deadly Shadow" | Don Weis | Story by : William McGivern Teleplay by : Harold Clements & William McGivern | November 12, 1960 |
9 | 9 | "The Dark Divide" | Don Weis | Story by : Robert Bloomfield Teleplay by : James Gunn & Robert Bloomfield | November 19, 1960 |
10 | 10 | "Moment of Truth" | Walter Doniger | Story by : Leonard Heideman Teleplay by : Jameson Brewer & Leonard Heideman | November 26, 1960 |
11 | 11 | "The Mask of Vengeance" | Ted Post | Warner Law | December 3, 1960 |
12 | 12 | "The Murder Game" | Douglas Heyes | Douglas Heyes | December 17, 1960 |
13 | 13 | "The Princess in the Tower" | Herschel Daugherty | Story by : Betty Ulius Teleplay by : Halsey Melone | December 31, 1960 |
14 | 14 | "Terror from the East" | Herschel Daugherty | Harold Clements | January 7, 1961 |
15 | 15 | "The Human Touch" | Don Weis | Story by : John Falvo & Pete Mamakos Teleplay by : James Gunn | January 14, 1961 |
16 | 16 | "Hour of Execution" | John English | Story by : Helen Nielsen Teleplay by : Robert Yale Libott | January 21, 1961 |
17 | 17 | "Don't Believe a Word She Says" | Sidney Lansfield | Story by : William Lindsay Gresham Teleplay by : Robert C. Dennis | January 28, 1961 |
18 | 18 | "Laugh Till I Die" | Don Weis | Bernie Giler | February 4, 1961 |
19 | 19 | "Between Two Guns" | John English | Harold Clements | February 11, 1961 |
20 | 20 | "A Matter of Conscience" | Richard Irving | Story by : Leonard Heideman Teleplay by : Edmund Morris | February 18, 1961 |
21 | 21 | "Melody for Murder" | Don Taylor | Stuart Jerome | February 25, 1961 |
22 | 22 | "Phantom Lover" | Herschel Daugherty | Raphael Hayes | March 4, 1961 |
23 | 23 | "The Gift" | Jules Bricken | Story by : Robert Blees Teleplay by : Irwin and Gwen Gielgud | March 11, 1961 |
24 | 24 | "One for the Book" | Don English | Story by : Curtis Kenyon Teleplay by : Robert C. Dennis | March 18, 1961 |
25 | 25 | "The Paper Killer[1]" | Don Taylor | Story by : Stuart Jerome Teleplay by : James Dunn | March 25, 1961 |
26 | 26 | "Jungle Castle" | Ted Post | Story by : Bernie Giler and Robert C. Dennis Teleplay by : Robert C. Dennis | April 1, 1961 |
27 | 27 | "The Deadly Silence" | Paul Stewart | Story by : Rik Vollaerts Teleplay by : Harold Clements | April 8, 1961 |
28 | 28 | "Goodbye Griff" | Allen H. Miner | Story by : Steven Thornley Teleplay by : Steven Thornley and Sheldon Stark | April 15, 1961 |
29 | 29 | "Dance of Death" | Paul Stewart | Robert Yale Libott | April 22, 1961 |
30 | 30 | "Voyage Into Fear" | Jules Bricken | Story by : Edmund Morris Teleplay by : Edmund Morris & Harold Clements | May 6, 1961 |
31 | 31 | "Tight as a Drum" | Herschel Daugherty | Story by : Edwin Blum Teleplay by : Edwin Blum and Robert C. Dennis | May 13, 1961 |
32 | 32 | "Death by Design" | John Newland | Story by : Bob & Wanda Duncan Teleplay by : Sheldon Stark and Bob & Wanda Duncan | May 20, 1961 |
33 | 33 | "The Thrill Seeker" | Don Taylor | Stuart Jerome | May 27, 1961 |
34 | 34 | "Hot Wind in a Cold Town" | Don Weis | Story by : James Lee Barrett Teleplay by : James Lee Barrett and Dick Berg | June 10, 1961 |
35 | 35 | "A Slight Touch of Venom" | Earl Bellamy | Story by : James Gunn Teleplay by : Robert C. Dennis | June 17, 1961 |
36 | 36 | "State of Shock" | James Wong Howe | Story by : William P. Templeton and Finlay McDermid Teleplay by : Robert C. Dennis | June 24, 1961 |
Season 2 (1961–62)
[edit]No. overall | No.in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
37 | 1 | "Portrait of a Man Running" | Elliot Silverstein | Richard Fielder | October 4, 1961 |
38 | 2 | "The Button Down Break" | Paul Stewart | Story by : William Shatner Teleplay by : Lewis Reed | October 11, 1961 |
39 | 3 | "The Heat of Passion" | Ron Winston | Story by : Sonya Roberts & Mann Rubin Teleplay by : Mann Rubin | October 18, 1961 |
40 | 4 | "Waiting for Jocko" | Don Taylor | Juarez Roberts | October 25, 1961 |
41 | 5 | "Through a Dark Glass" | Robert Ellis Miller | Richard DeRoy | November 1, 1961 |
42 | 6 | "Juan Moreno's Body" | Tom Gries | Anthony Spinner | November 8, 1961 |
43 | 7 | "Kill the Sound" | James Wong Howe | Alfred Brenner | November 15, 1961 |
44 | 8 | "The Crimson Pool" | Alan Crosland, Jr. | Richard DeRoy | November 22, 1961 |
45 | 9 | "The Two of Us" | Paul Stewart | Lewis Reed | November 29, 1961 |
46 | 10 | "Nice Guys Finish Last" | Alan Crosland, Jr. | Larry Cohen | December 13, 1961 |
47 | 11 | "To the Best of My Recollection" | Paul Stewart | John McGreevey | December 27, 1961 |
48 | 12 | "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Game" | Don Taylor | Story by : Lewis Reed Teleplay by : Lewis Reed & Don Taylor | January 3, 1962 |
49 | 13 | "The Star System" | William Graham | Richard DeRoy | January 10, 1962 |
50 | 14 | "The Renaissance of Gussie Hill" | Ron Winston | Story by : Oliver Gard Teleplay by : Oliver Gard & Mark Rodgers | January 17, 1962 |
51 | 15 | "A Very Rough Sketch" | Ron Winston | Mann Rubin | January 24, 1962 |
52 | 16 | "The Yacht Club Gang" | Alex Singer | Robert J. Shaw | January 31, 1962 |
53 | 17 | "Death Beyond Recall" | Herman Hoffman | Max Ehrlich | February 7, 1962 |
54 | 18 | "The Sound of Nervous Laughter" | Paul Stewart | Story by : Jonathan Latimer Teleplay by : Jonathan Latimer & Mark Rodgers | February 14, 1962 |
55 | 19 | "An Assassin Arrives, Andante" | Tom Gries | Story by : Anthony Spinner Teleplay by : Sy Salkowitz | February 21, 1962 |
56 | 20 | "Remembrance of Crimes Past" | William Graham | Richard DeRoy | February 28, 1962 |
57 | 21 | "Heart Is a Handout" | Tom Gries | Sy Salkowitz | March 7, 1962 |
58 | 22 | "A Brooding Fixation" | Robert Ellis Miller | Story by : Oliver Crawford Teleplay by : Mark Rodgers & Oliver Crawford | March 14, 1962 |
59 | 23 | "A Chant of Silence" | William Graham | Richard McCracken | March 21, 1962 |
60 | 24 | "Trial by Midnight" | Alex Singer | Mark Rodgers | March 28, 1962 |
61 | 25 | "Ride a Wild Horse" | Byron Paul | Story by : Harold Jack Bloom Teleplay by : Harold Jack Bloom & Dick Nelson | April 4, 1962 |
62 | 26 | "So Beats My Plastic Heart" | Bernard Girard | Mark Rodgers | April 11, 1962 |
63 | 27 | "In a Foreign Quarter" | Robert Ellis Miller | Sy Salkowitz | April 18, 1962 |
64 | 28 | "Referendum on Murder" | Lewis Allen | John Mantley | April 25, 1962 |
65 | 29 | "The Someday Man" | Robert Ellis Miller | Richard DeRoy | May 2, 1962 |
66 | 30 | "Rendezvous in Washington" | William Graham | Mark Rodgers | May 9, 1962 |
67 | 31 | "The Bold and the Tough" | Don Taylor | Story by : Reuben Bercovitch & Dick Nelson Teleplay by : Dick Nelson | May 16, 1962 |
68 | 32 | "Will the Real Killer Please Stand Up?" | Ron Winston | Mark Rodgers | May 23, 1962 |
69 | 33 | "Down the Gardenia Path" | Ralph Senensky | Robert J. Shaw | June 6, 1962 |
70 | 34 | "Side by Side" | Robert Ellis Miller | Richard Fielder | June 20, 1962 |
Broadcast
[edit]CBSaired the series on Saturday in the 8:30-9:30 PM time slot from its début on September 17, 1960, until June 24, 1961. The series finished at #21 among all series.[6]It was then reprogrammed[2]to Wednesday in the same time slot from October 4, 1961, to June 20, 1962, where it fell in the ratings oppositeThe Perry Como Showon NBC.[7]CBS replaced it withThe Beverly Hillbillies.
The series was also seen in Canada from 1961 onCTVduring that network's initial season.[8]
By 1963, it wasre-runinsyndication.[3]
Home media
[edit]Timeless Media Grouphas released two "Best of..." collections on DVD in Region 1.Checkmate: The Best of Season 1[9]was released on October 30, 2009, andCheckmate: The Best of Season 2was released on March 25, 2008.[10]Timeless Media Group releasedCheckmate: The Complete Serieson 14 DVDs on June 22, 2010 (Region 1).[11][4][5]
Response
[edit]The series was a critical favorite.[citation needed]In 1961, John J. Lloyd won the show's sole Emmy nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction and Scenic Design.[12]The icon for this series is swirling liquid shapes at the opening and closing of each episode with theme music byJohn Williams.
Comics
[edit]In 1962,Gold Key Comicspublished a two-issue comic book run based on the series.
References
[edit]- ^abcMurray, Noel (28 April 2011)."Checkmate," The Paper Killer "".The A.V. Club.Retrieved7 December2022.
- ^abTelevision-Digest-1961-Q2(PDF).worldradiohistory.com. p. 31.Retrieved7 December2022.
- ^abWeekly television digest (Jan-Dec).Washington D.C.: Television Digest, Inc. 1963. p. 72.Retrieved7 December2022.
archive.org
- ^ab"Checkmate: The Complete Series (DVD)".Amazon.com.Shout! Factory.Retrieved7 December2022.
- ^ab"Checkmate: The Complete Series - DVD".Shout! Factory.Retrieved7 December2022.
- ^"1960-1961".TV Ratings.ClassicTVHits.com.RetrievedMarch 21,2015.
- ^"1961-1962".TV Ratings.ClassicTVHits.com.RetrievedMarch 21,2015.
- ^Braithwaite, Dennis (2 October 1961). "Filmed Accolades Put Private TV Network on the Air".The Globe and Mail.p. 4.
- ^"Best of CHECKMATE".Timelessvideo.com. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-02-04.Retrieved2012-08-11.
- ^"Best of CHECKMATE Season Two".Timelessvideo.com. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-03-04.Retrieved2012-08-11.
- ^"CHECKMATE: The Complete Series".Timelessvideo.com. 2010-06-22. Archived fromthe originalon 2010-11-29.Retrieved2019-01-05.
- ^"Checkmate".Awards & Nominations: Outstanding Achievement In Art Direction And Scenic Design - 1961.Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.2015.RetrievedMarch 21,2015.
External links
[edit]- 1960 American television series debuts
- 1962 American television series endings
- 1960s American crime drama television series
- Black-and-white American television shows
- American detective television series
- American English-language television shows
- Gold Key Comics titles
- Television shows adapted into comics
- Television series by Universal Television
- Television shows set in San Francisco
- CBS television dramas