The Squeaker – 1937 | 77 mins | Crime, Drama | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Efficient crime whodunit based on the Edgar Wallace’s story in which Edmund Lowe reprises his stage role as the methodical Scotland Yard inspector who doggedly pursues a London arch criminal.Confined within Vincent Korda’s stiff Denham studio sets, William K Howard’s direction is sloppy and the casting is unfortunate. Georges Périnal’s subtle,inventive lighting are memorable, but the attempt to substitute atmosphere for suspense fails. Fading American star Lowe seems out of his depth in English crime, and German actress Tamara Desni struggles in vain to bring a touch of glamour to the picture. Fortunately there is compensation in young Alastair Sim as a zealous reporter, and in Robert Newton‘s passionate jewel thief.

Scotland Yard are struggling to expose a notorious jewel fence and police informant nicknamed‘The Squeaker’ who holds the underworld in fear and uses the police to his own advantage. Supt. Marshall of Scotland Yard takes the surprising step of recruiting ex-police detective and recovering alcoholic Barrabal (Edmund Lowe)to go undercover and unmask The Squeaker; with the incentive of a return to the Yard if he succeeds. Meanwhile, petty thief Larry Graeme (Robert Newton) hits the big-time by stealing the £50,000 Van Rissik pearls – but The Squeaker, who he recognises, will only offer him a fraction of their worth.

After questioning Graeme, Canadian Barrabal’s next line of enquiry is to ask newspaper reporter Joshua Collie (Alastair Sim), who is chronicling The Squeaker’s exploits, about a respectable shipping manager, Frank Sutton (Sebastian Shaw),who is suspiciously helpful to down-and-out petty thieves. Barrabal goes undercover using the pseudonym Captain Leslie and gets a job with Sutton. Larry Graeme is detained by the police following a tip-off from The Squeaker, but he escapes from custody and vows revenge on the notorious informer.