''The Squeaker'' is a 1937 British

crime film Crime film is a film belonging to the crime fiction genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and fiction. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine with many other genres, such as Drama (film and television), dr ...

directed by William K. Howard and starring

Edmund Lowe Edmund Sherbourne Lowe (March 3, 1890 – April 21, 1971) was an American actor. His formative experience began in vaudeville and silent film. Biography Lowe's childhood home was at 314 North 1st Street, San Jose. He attended Santa Clara Coll ...

, Sebastian Shaw and Ann Todd. Lowe reprised his stage performance in the role of Inspector Barrabal. The film is based on the 1927 novel '' The Squeaker'' and the 1928 play of the same name by

Edgar Wallace Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1 April 1875 – 10 February 1932) was a British writer of crime and adventure fiction. Born into poverty as an illegitimate London child, Wallace left school at the age of 12. He joined the army at age 21 and was ...

. Wallace's son Bryan Edgar Wallace worked on the film's screenplay. The term "squeaker" is underworld slang for an

informer An informant (also called an informer or, as a slang term, a "snitch", "rat", "canary", "stool pigeon", "stoolie", "tout" or "grass", among other terms) is a person who provides privileged information, or (usually damaging) information inten ...

, analogous to the American term "squealer". The film was released in the United States as ''Murder on Diamond Row''.

Plot

London's thieves are at the mercy of the Squeaker, a

fence A fence is a structure that encloses an area, typically outdoors, and is usually constructed from posts that are connected by boards, wire, rails or net (textile), netting. A fence differs from a wall in not having a solid foundation along its ...

who is involved with every major jewellery robbery in the city. If the thieves refuse to split the loot with him, the Squeaker informs the police of their involvement. A disgraced former detective seizes the opportunity to clear his name if he can capture the Squeaker.

Cast

as Inspector Barrabal * Sebastian Shaw as Frank Sutton * Ann Todd as Carol Stedman * Tamara Desni as Tamara * Robert Newton as Larry Graeme * Allan Jeayes as Inspector Elford * Alastair Sim as Joshua Collie * Stewart Rome as Police Superintendent Marshall *

Mabel Terry-Lewis Mabel Gwynedd Terry-Lewis (born as Mabel Gwynedd Lewis) ( 28 October 1872 – 28 November 1957) was an English actress and a member of the Terry-Gielgud dynasty of actors of the 19th and 20th centuries. After a successful career in her twe ...

as Mrs. Stedman * Gordon McLeod as Mr. Field * Alf Goddard as Sergeant Hawkins * Danny Green as Safecracker * Michael Rennie as Medical Examiner * Neva Carr Glyn

Reception

In a contemporary review for the ''

Sunday Mirror The ''Sunday Mirror'' is the Sunday sister paper of the ''Daily Mirror''. It began life in 1915 as the ''Sunday Pictorial'' and was renamed the ''Sunday Mirror'' in 1963. In 2016 it had an average weekly circulation of 620,861, dropping marked ...

'', critic Walter Webster wrote:

The plot is highly ingenious. It is developed with fine expense and the background of Scotland Yard with Stewart Rome in charge is utterly convincing. This is good stuff with a glorious comedy performance by Alastair Sim as a Scotch reporter in London, Sebastian Shaw and Robert Newton in two splendid dramatic characterisations and Ann Todd at long last getting an opportunity to play an intelligent part in a film and doing so with great distinction. But it is Edmund Lowe as the detective who takes charge of the drama and gives it zest. He plays with polish and punch.

Upon the film's American release as ''Murder on Diamond Row'', critic Frank S. Nugent of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', wrote: "Rarely have we seen a murder out with less suspense or mystification. ... The lighting is poor, Tamara Desni's song and dance sequences are third rate and the cast—with the exception of Mr. Lowe and Alastair Sim as a 'journalist'—is hardly worth mentioning. I say, Mr. Korda, this won't do, you know."

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Squeaker (1937 film), The 1937 films 1937 crime films Films directed by William K. Howard Films based on works by Edgar Wallace Films set in London British crime films British black-and-white films 1930s English-language films 1930s British films English-language crime films

Plot

Cast

Reception

See also

References

External links