Jump to content

Master Spy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Master Spy
US release film poster
Directed byMontgomery Tully
Screenplay byMaurice J. Wilson
Montgomery Tully
Based onThey Also Serve
by Gerald Anstruther and Paul White
Produced byMaurice J. Wilson
StarringStephen Murray
June Thorburn
Alan Wheatley
John Carson
CinematographyGeoffrey Faithfull
Edited byEric Boyd-Perkins
Music byKen Thorne
Production
company
Eternal Films
Distributed byGrand National Pictures
Allied Artists (USA)
Release dates
  • August 19, 1963 (1963-08-19)[1]
  • August 19, 1964 (1964-08-19) (US)
Running time
70 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Master Spy (also known as Checkmate)[2][3] is a 1963 British spy film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Stephen Murray, June Thorburn and Alan Wheatley.[4] The film was based on the short story "They Also Serve" by Gerald Anstruther and Paul White.

The US release film poster identifies the Master Spy as Agent 909.

Plot

[edit]

A Russian nuclear scientist, Dr Boris Turganev, defects from an unnamed country to the West. He is employed by the UK Government at a top secret scientific establishment to continue his work on neutron rays. He is introduced to a wealthy local man, Paul Skelton, and they identify themselves to each other as spies. Turganev's colleagues start to suspect he is stealing secrets for the communists; Turganev passes information to Skelton under the cover of their private games of chess. British Intelligence arrests them, and they are tried and sentenced to long prison terms.

Turganev's colleague is puzzled that the secret document which Turganev was passing to Skelton had been altered and would not work. In a plot twist, it is revealed that Turganev was working for British Intelligence, who suspected Skelton and wanted to catch his spy ring. A prison escape is engineered for Turganev so that he can return to his own country and continue his activities for the British with his cover intact.

Cast

[edit]

Critical reception

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150043577
  2. ^ "Master Spy". BFI Filmography. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Master Spy (1963)". BFI. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019.
  4. ^ "BFI | Film & TV Database | MASTER SPY (1962)". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. 16 April 2009. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  5. ^ Master Spy, retrieved 7 March 2022
  6. ^ Master Spy (1963), retrieved 7 March 2022
  7. ^ Howard Thompson (20 August 1964). "Movie Review - Master Spy - Master Spy' at Local Theaters". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  8. ^ "Master Spy (1964) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast". AllMovie. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
[edit]