Master Spy
1963 British film by Montgomery Tully
title: "Master Spy" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1963-films", "british-spy-films", "cold-war-spy-films", "films-directed-by-montgomery-tully", "british-black-and-white-films", "films-based-on-short-fiction", "1960s-spy-films", "films-scored-by-ken-thorne", "films-shot-at-mgm-british-studios", "1960s-english-language-films", "1963-british-films", "allied-artists-films"] description: "1963 British film by Montgomery Tully" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_Spy" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary 1963 British film by Montgomery Tully ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox film"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Master Spy |
| image | "Master_Spy"_(1964).jpg |
| caption | US release film poster |
| director | Montgomery Tully |
| producer | Maurice J. Wilson |
| screenplay | Maurice J. Wilson |
| Montgomery Tully | |
| based_on | |
| starring | Stephen Murray |
| June Thorburn | |
| Alan Wheatley | |
| John Carson | |
| music | Ken Thorne |
| cinematography | Geoffrey Faithfull |
| editing | Eric Boyd-Perkins |
| studio | Eternal Films |
| distributor | Grand National Pictures |
| Allied Artists (USA) | |
| released | |
| runtime | 70 minutes |
| country | United Kingdom |
| language | English |
| :: |
| name = Master Spy | image = "Master_Spy"_(1964).jpg | caption = US release film poster | director = Montgomery Tully | producer = Maurice J. Wilson | screenplay = Maurice J. Wilson Montgomery Tully | based_on = | starring = Stephen Murray June Thorburn Alan Wheatley John Carson | music = Ken Thorne | cinematography = Geoffrey Faithfull | editing = Eric Boyd-Perkins | studio = Eternal Films | distributor = Grand National Pictures Allied Artists (USA) | released = | runtime = 70 minutes | country = United Kingdom | language = English Master Spy (also known as Checkmate) is a 1963 British spy film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Stephen Murray, June Thorburn and Alan Wheatley. The screenplay was by Tully and Maurice J. Wilson 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
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
- Stephen Murray as Boris Turganev
- June Thorburn as Leila Telford
- Alan Wheatley as Paul Skelton
- John Carson as Richard Colman
- John Bown as John Baxter
- Jack Watson as Captain Foster
- Ernest Clark as Doctor Pembury
- Peter Gilmore as Tom Masters
- Marne Maitland as Doctor Asafu
- Ellen Pollock as Dr Mary Morrell
- Hugh Morton as Sir Gilbert Saunders
- Basil Dignam as Richard Horton
- Victor Beaumont as Petrov
- Hamilton Dyce as airport controller
- Michael Peake as Barnes
- Dan Cressey as policeman (uncredited)
- Derek Francis as police Inspector (uncredited)
- John G. Heller as police officer (uncredited)
- Aileen Lewis as woman boarding a plane (uncredited)
- John H. Watson as detective at airport (uncredited)
Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Placid and plodding, this spy story is distinguished only by a few nice touches of characterisation."
The New York Times called the film "a TEPID, square-cut espionage drama."
The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 1/5 stars, writing: "There isn't an atom of suspense in Montgomery Tully's tepid thriller about spying scientists. Indeed, the most exciting moments are the games of chess during which defector Stephen Murray passes vital secrets to communist squire, Alan Wheatley. There's a valiant attempt to put a sting in the tail, but only lab assistant June Thorburn fails to see through the slenderest web of deception."
AllMovie wrote, "While only 71 minutes, Master Spy has enough plot twists for a library-full of Fleming and LeCarre."
References
References
- "Collections Search {{!}} BFI {{!}} British Film Institute".
- "Master Spy".
- (2009-04-16). "BFI | Film & TV Database | MASTER SPY (1962)". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk.
- "Master Spy (1963)".
- "Master Spy".
- "Master Spy (1963)".
- (1 January 1963). "Master Spy". [[The Monthly Film Bulletin]].
- Howard Thompson. (1964-08-20). "Movie Review - Master Spy - Master Spy' at Local Theaters". [[The New York Times]].
- (2017). "Radio Times Guide to Films". [[Immediate Media Company]].
- "Master Spy (1964) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast". AllMovie.
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