Checkmate

4.1
19601h

Checkmate is an American detective television series starring Anthony George, Sebastian Cabot, and Doug McClure. The show aired on CBS Television from 1960 to 1962 for a total of 70 episodes and was produced by Jack Benny's production company, "JaMco Productions" in co-operation with Revue Studios. Guest stars included Charles Laughton, Peter Lorre, and Lee Marvin, among many other commensurately prominent performers.

Seasons

35 Episodes • Premiered 1960

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 1: Death Runs Wild

1. Death Runs Wild

Story tells of a demented woman out to kill private eye Anthony George. The instrument of death, as it turned out, was, a wild stallion she stocked on her ranch. Her motive was revenge. On a previous case, the private eye had brought her lover to justice and the gas chamber.

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 2: Interrupted Honeymoon

2. Interrupted Honeymoon

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 3: The Cyanide Touch

3. The Cyanide Touch

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 4: Lady on the Brink

4. Lady on the Brink

Checkmate comes to the aid of a woman with a traumatic past when it becomes evident that someone is trying to make it appear she's mentally unstable. discrediting her eye-witness testimony at a murder trial.

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 5: Face in the Window

5. Face in the Window

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 6: Runaway

6. Runaway

A girl shows up at Corey's apartment, claiming that she is running from someone who is trying to kill her. However, the detectives all find that nothing she has said checks out, including her numerous aliases, and that she's actually an heiress running from a controlling grandmother. But it does appear that the part about someone trying to kill her may be the truth.

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 7: Target: Tycoon

7. Target: Tycoon

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 8: The Deadly Shadow

8. The Deadly Shadow

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 9: The Dark Divide

9. The Dark Divide

Barbara Rush plays a dual role in The dark divide. Why should Margaret Russell's life be threatened? Her aunt keeps getting phone calls from a woman named Nikki Garnett, threatening Margaret. What motive could the woman have?

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 10: Moment of Truth

10. Moment of Truth

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 11: The Mask of Vengeance

11. The Mask of Vengeance

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 12: The Murder Game

12. The Murder Game

Attorney Emory Olivant invites Corey, Sills and Dr. Hyatt to a party. Once all the guests have arrived, Olivant announces that they are going to play a game—a murder game in which he will be the killer.

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 13: The Princess in the Tower

13. The Princess in the Tower

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 14: The Terror from the East

14. The Terror from the East

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 15: The Human Touch

15. The Human Touch

Arguably the finest episode of the series, featuring guest star Peter Lorre as an ex-con criminal mastermind determined to wreak revenge on master criminologist Sebastian Cabot. An intricate series of cat and mouse moves between the two geniuses culminates in a surprise and ultimately poignant ending, befitting the episode title. This episode stresses the close friendships between the three detectives of CHECKMATE INCORPORATED as it contrasts with that of the brilliant, but soulless Lorre. Directing, writing and acting are all exemplary.

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 16: Hour of Execution

16. Hour of Execution

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 17: Don't Believe a Word She Says

17. Don't Believe a Word She Says

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 18: Laugh Till I Die

18. Laugh Till I Die

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 19: Between Two Guns

19. Between Two Guns

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 20: A Matter of Conscience

20. A Matter of Conscience

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 21: Melody for Murder

21. Melody for Murder

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 22: Phantom Lover

22. Phantom Lover

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 23: The Gift

23. The Gift

Lola Tuscany, a temperamental lady soprano, is having premonitions of her death. After her concert she is almost poisoned and Checkmate Inc. is hired to keep her safe. Don Corey is skeptical, believing it is a publicity stunt, until he is nearly killed when a bomb explodes in the car he and Lola are driving in.

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 24: One for the Book

24. One for the Book

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 25: The Paper Killer

25. The Paper Killer

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 26: Jungle Castle

26. Jungle Castle

After two attempts on his life, big game hunter Lee Tabor brings Dr. Hyatt and Carl to his home in the Malayan jungle. He asks for their help in finding out which of his three house guests is trying to kill him.

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 27: The Deadly Silence

27. The Deadly Silence

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 28: Goodbye Griff

28. Goodbye Griff

""Ex-convict Griff Nolan is jealous because his wife Libby earns more as a magazine editor than he does as a mechanic. More domestic strife develops when Griff becomes jealous of Libby's boss Lewis Bates --- and buys a gun."" -- TV Guide

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 30: Voyage Into Fear

30. Voyage Into Fear

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 31: Tight As a Drum

31. Tight As a Drum

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 32: Death by Design

32. Death by Design

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 33: The Thrill Seeker

33. The Thrill Seeker

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 34: Hot Wind in a Cold Town

34. Hot Wind in a Cold Town

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 35: A Slight Touch of Venom

35. A Slight Touch of Venom

Still image for Checkmate season 1 episode 36: State of Shock

36. State of Shock

Cast

Photo of Doug McClure

Doug McClure

Jed Sills

Photo of Sebastian Cabot

Sebastian Cabot

Dr. Carl Hyatt

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