The Squeaker *** (1937, Edmund Lowe, Sebastian Shaw, Ann Todd, Tamara Desni, Robert Newton, Allan Jeayes, Alastair Sim) – Classic Movie Review 11,428

The US theatrical poster of The Squeaker.

The venerable vintage 1937 British crime thriller The Squeaker is based on Edgar Wallace’s famous novel and play.

Director William K Howard’s venerable vintage 1937 British crime thriller The Squeaker [Murder on Diamond Row] is based on the famous 1927 novel and 1928 play The Squeaker by Edgar Wallace. It stars Edmund Lowe as drunken disgraced ex-detective Inspector Barrabal, who gets a second chance when he masquerades as an ex-con to try to uncover and capture a master criminal, ‘The Squeaker’, who shops any London thieves to the police who won’t split their jewellery robbery loot with him.

Sebastian Shaw, Ann Todd, Tamara Desni, Robert Newton, Alastair Sim, Allan Jeayes and Stewart Rome also star in this highly entertaining third film version of the Edgar Wallace whodunit, following The Squeaker (1930) and the German The Squeaker (1931).

The Squeaker provides a satisfying mystery, as well as plenty of antediluvian lip-smacking in the acting and handling, backed up by the handsome production by producer Alexander Korda and designer Vincent Korda.

Also in the cast are Mabel Terry-Lewis, Gordon McLeod, Syd Crossley and Michael Rennie.

Wallace’s son Bryan Edgar Wallace worked on the screenplay. The scenario is by Bryan Edgar Wallace (as Bryan Wallace) and the screenplay is by Ted Berkman (as Edward O Berkman).

Lowe had just played the part in a hit London stage revival.

The Squeaker is underworld slang for an informer.

Murder on Diamond Row is its US alternative title.

The main cast are Edmund Lowe 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 as Mrs Stedman, Gordon McLeod as Mr Field, Alf Goddard as Sergeant Hawkins, Danny Green as Safecracker, Syd Crossley, and Michael Rennie as Medical Examiner.

It was made again as The Squeaker (1963) in Germany, where Wallace was particularly popular.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,428

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