The Squeaker | |
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![]() Film poster for Der Zinker | |
Directed by | Alfred Vohrer |
Written by |
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Produced by |
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Starring | Heinz Drache |
Cinematography | Karl Löb |
Edited by | Hermann Haller |
Music by | Peter Thomas |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | Constantin Film |
Release date |
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Running time | 89 minutes |
Countries |
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Language | German |
The Squeaker (German : Der Zinker) is a 1963 West German-French crime film directed by Alfred Vohrer and starring Heinz Drache. [1] It was part of a very successful series of German films based on the writings of Edgar Wallace and adapted from the 1927 novel of the same name.
Both Scotland Yard and the criminal community of London are trying to discover the identity of "the Squealer". This mysterious fence forces criminals to sell him their wares for a pittance. When some object, he "squeals" to the police. Those who oppose him are ruthlessly killed, preferably by means of the poison of the Black Mamba. Inspector Elford of Scotland Yard investigates and he has plenty of suspects. The trail leads to the strange Mr. Sutton, owner of a zoological store that also carries predators and poisonous snakes. During his investigation, Elford meets Mrs. Mulford, an older lady who tries to help ex-convicts, and Beryl, her niece, who writes crime stories and works as a court reporter. Inspector Elford discovers a similarity between the typeset of a machine also used by Sutton and letters written by the Squealer. To make Sutton confess, he is tricked by Mrs. Mulford in cooperation with the police into drinking what he believes to be poisoned tea. [2] [3] [4]
The Squeaker was the 12th of a very successful series of German films made in the late 1950s and 1960s by producer Horst Wendlandt for Rialto Film. This particular installment was co-produced by French company 'Les Films Jaques Willemetz'. The script was adapted by Harald G. Petersson from the 1927 novel The Squeaker or The Sign Of the Leopard (The Squealer in the US). Earlier film versions had been made in 1930 (United Kingdom) and directed by Edgar Wallace himself, [3] 1931 (Germany) and 1937 (again United Kingdom). In 1961, an initial treatment had been written by Egon Eis who had earlier also worked on the script for the 1931 film made in Germany. However, he did not want to copy his own work and refused to do the final script for the new film. Petersson, who so far had only reworked scripts for Rialto, was now tasked with writing an entire script for the first time. His script was much more terse than the novel and it found the approval of producer Wendlandt. [4]
Wendlandt had to compete with films that were increasingly in colour. To boost the black and white film's attraction, it was shot in 'Ultra-Scope' a widescreen method. [4] Alfred Vohrer directed the film. To boost production values, some scenes were shot on location in a wintry London. [3] Additional exteriors were shot in West Berlin. The Spandau Studios were used for interior cinematography—making this the first of a total of 15 films from the series that used Artur Brauner's studios. [4] Filming took place between 22 January and 28 February 1963. [4]
This was the first film of the series to feature the signature beginning with a series of gun shots ringing out followed by a (coloured) bloodstain spreading across the screen as an invisible voice intones "Hello, this is Edgar Wallace!". [4]
The FSK gave the film a rating of 16 and up and found it not appropriate for screenings on public holidays. It was released on 26 April 1963. [2]
Edgar Wallace (1875–1932) was a British novelist and playwright and screenwriter whose works have been adapted for the screen on many occasions.
The Avenger is a 1960 West German crime film directed by Karl Anton and starring Heinz Drache, Ingrid van Bergen and Ina Duscha. It is based on the 1926 novel The Avenger by Edgar Wallace. It was shot at the Bavaria Studios in Munich. The film's sets were designed by the art director Willi Herrmann.
The Door with Seven Locks is a 1962 German-language crime film directed by Alfred Vohrer and starring Heinz Drache. It is an adaptation of the 1926 Edgar Wallace novel of the same name.
The Inn on the River is a 1962 West German crime film directed by Alfred Vohrer and starring Joachim Fuchsberger, Eddi Arent and Klaus Kinski. It is part of a cycle of films based on the novels of Edgar Wallace, produced in West Germany in the 1950s and 1960s.
The Black Abbot is a 1963 West German mystery film directed by Franz Josef Gottlieb and starring Joachim Fuchsberger. It was part of a very successful series of German films based on the writings of Edgar Wallace and adapted from the 1926 novel of the same name.
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Creature with the Blue Hand is a West German horror film directed by Alfred Vohrer and starring Harald Leipnitz, Klaus Kinski and Ilse Steppat. It is based on the 1925 novel The Blue Hand by Edgar Wallace and was part of a long-running series of adaptations made by Rialto Film. The film's plot involves the police tracking a killer known as the Blue Hand. It was shot at the Spandau Studios in Berlin. The film's sets were designed by the art director Walter Kutz and Wilhelm Vorwerg.
Heinz Drache was a German film actor. He appeared in more than 40 films between 1953 and 2002. He was born in Essen, Germany and died in Berlin, Germany of lung cancer.
Horst Otto Gregor Wendlandt was a German film producer. He produced more than 100 films between 1956 and 2002.
The Green Archer is a 1961 West German black and white crime film directed by Jürgen Roland and starring Gert Fröbe, Klausjürgen Wussow, Karin Dor and Eddi Arent. It is based on the 1923 novel The Green Archer by Edgar Wallace.
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The Squeaker is a 1937 British crime film directed by William K. Howard and starring Edmund Lowe, Sebastian Shaw and Ann Todd. Edmund Lowe reprised his stage performance in the role of Inspector Barrabal. It is based on the 1927 novel The Squeaker and 1928 play of the same name by Edgar Wallace. Wallace's son Bryan Edgar Wallace worked on the film's screenplay. The Squeaker is underworld slang for an informer. The film is sometimes known by its U.S. alternative title Murder on Diamond Row.
The Crimson Circle is a 1960 West German/Danish black and white crime film directed by Jürgen Roland and starring Renate Ewert, Klausjürgen Wussow and Karl-Georg Saebisch. It was an adaptation of the 1922 novel The Crimson Circle by the British writer Edgar Wallace.
Der Frosch mit der Maske, aka Face of the Frog, is a 1959 West German-Danish black-and-white crime film directed by Harald Reinl and starring Siegfried Lowitz and Joachim Fuchsberger. It was the first of a very successful series of films based on works by Edgar Wallace produced by Rialto Film in West Germany. This film was adapted from the 1925 novel The Fellowship of the Frog.
Der Hexer is a 1964 West German black and white mystery film directed by Alfred Vohrer and starring Joachim Fuchsberger. It was part of a very successful series of German films based on the writings of Edgar Wallace and adapted from the 1925 novel titled The Ringer. In 1965, a sequel Neues vom Hexer was released.
The Hunchback of Soho is a 1966 West German crime film directed by Alfred Vohrer and starring Günther Stoll, Pinkas Braun and Monika Peitsch.
The Squeaker is a 1930 British mystery crime film directed by Edgar Wallace and starring Percy Marmont, Anne Grey and Gordon Harker.
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