Mark of the Phoenix

1958 British film by Maclean Rogers

Mark of the Phoenix

Poster for French release

Directed by| Maclean Rogers
Written by| Norman Hudis
Based on| novel The Phoenix Sings by Desmond Cory[1]
Produced by| W.G. Chalmers
Starring| Julia Arnall
Sheldon Lawrence
Anton Diffring
Cinematography| Geoffrey Faithfull
Edited by| Harry Booth
Music by| Wilfred Burns (uncredited)

Production
company

Butcher's Film Service

Distributed by| Butcher's Film Service (UK)

Release date

* November 1958 (1958-11) (UK)

Running time

| 78 minutes
Country| United Kingdom
Language| English

Mark of the Phoenix is a 1958 British 'B' drama film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Julia Arnall, Sheldon Lawrence and Anton Diffring.[2] An American jewel thief comes into possession of a newly developed metal.

## Plot

[edit]

A newly developed and valuable metal is stolen and formed into a cigarette case for transportation to East Germany, but an American jewel thief comes into possession of it and finds himself a target.

## Cast

[edit]

* Julia Arnall as Petra
* Sheldon Lawrence as Chuck Martin
* Anton Diffring as Inspector Schell
* Eric Pohlmann as Duser
* George Margo as Emilson
* Michael Peake as Koos
* Martin Miller as Brunet
* Roger Delgado as Devron
* Bernard Rebel as Vachek
* Frederick Schrecker as Van de Velde
* Pierre Chaminade as hotel receptionist
* Corinne Grey as bride
* Jennifer Jayne as Airline Ticket Clerk
* Edouard Assaly as cafe waiter
* Victor Beaumont as travel clerk
* Norma Parnell as 2nd airline ticket clerk
* Howard Greene as young detective
* Tom Clegg as strong man
* Patrick Troughton as police officer (uncredited)

## Critical reception

[edit]

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This spy story has all the usual trimmings as tough, handsome American jewel thief, portly art-collector gang leader, shot scientist, secret formula and brutal foreign agents as but almost makes up for their familiarity by lively pacing. This turns out to be the film’s sole virtue, however, since direction, dialogue and performances are on a distressingly amateurish level.”[3]

In British Sound Films David Quinlan wrote: ''Feverishly complicated thriller, not too well acted.''[4]

The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 1/5 stars, writing: "This dismal low-budget thriller has a corkscrew plot involving rare metals, jewel thieves, international blackmail, the Cold War and much else. [...] The mediocre cast is typical of British B-movies of the period, with the sole exception of Anton Diffring."[5]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Desmond Cory Book Gallery - 1950s".
2. ^ "Mark of the Phoenix". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
3. ^ "Mark of the Phoenix". Monthly Film Bulletin. 26 (300): 138. 1 January 1959.
4. ^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 345\. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.
5. ^ Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 593\. ISBN 9780992936440.

## External links

[edit]

* Mark of the Phoenix at IMDb
* Mark of the Phoenix at ReelStreets

* v
* t
* e

Films by Maclean Rogers

* The Third Eye (1929)
* The Mayor's Nest (1932)
* The Crime at Blossoms (1933)
* Summer Lightning (1933)
* Up for the Derby (1933)
* Trouble (1933)
* It's a Cop (1934)
* Virginia's Husband (1934)
* The Scoop (1934)
* The Feathered Serpent (1934)
* A Little Bit of Bluff (1935)
* The Right Age to Marry (1935)
* Old Faithful (1935)
* Marry the Girl (1935)
* A Wife or Two (1936)
* The Shadow of Mike Emerald (1936)
* A Touch of the Moon (1936)
* Not So Dusty (1936)
* To Catch a Thief (1936)
* The Heirloom Mystery (1936)
* The Happy Family (1936)
* Nothing Like Publicity (1936)
* Busman's Holiday (1936)
* Farewell to Cinderella (1937)
* Strange Adventures of Mr. Smith (1937)
* Fifty-Shilling Boxer (1937)
* All That Glitters (1937)
* Father Steps Out (1937)
* Why Pick on Me? (1937)
* Racing Romance (1937)
* Easy Riches (1938)
* If I Were Boss (1938)
* His Lordship Regrets (1938)
* Darts Are Trumps (1938)
* Weddings Are Wonderful (1938)
* Paid in Error (1938)
* Miracles Do Happen (1939)
* His Lordship Goes to Press (1939)
* Garrison Follies (1940)
* Old Mother Riley Joins Up (1940)
* Shadowed Eyes (1940)
* Facing the Music (1941)
* Front Line Kids (1942)
* Gert and Daisy's Weekend (1942)
* Gert and Daisy Clean Up (1942)
* Variety Jubilee (1943)
* I'll Walk Beside You (1943)
* Somewhere in Civvies (1943)
* Give Me the Stars (1945)
* Don Chicago (1945)
* The Trojan Brothers (1946)
* Woman to Woman (1947)
* Calling Paul Temple (1948)
* The Story of Shirley Yorke (1948)
* Dark Secret (1949)
* Paul Temple's Triumph (1950)
* Something in the City (1950)
* Old Mother Riley's Jungle Treasure (1951)
* Madame Louise (1951)
* Paul Temple Returns (1952)
* Salute the Toff (1952)
* Hammer the Toff (1952)
* Down Among the Z Men (1952)
* Alf's Baby (1953)
* Force's Sweetheart (1953)
* Behind the Headlines (1953)
* Flannelfoot (1953)
* Johnny on the Spot (1954)
* Calling All Cars (1954)
* Assignment Redhead (1956)
* Not So Dusty (1956)
* You Pay Your Money (1957)
* Not Wanted on Voyage (1957)
* Mark of the Phoenix (1958)
* A Clean Sweep (1958)
* Just Joe (1960)

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