Checkpoint (1956)

Stanley Baker's character is sent to steal the plans from another company of their racing car designs, to ensure his employers win the competition. However when opening a safe containing ... See full summary »

Director:

Ralph Thomas

Writer:

Robin Estridge (original screenplay)

Stars:

Anthony Steel, Odile Versois, Stanley Baker

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anthony Steel	...	Bill Fraser
Odile Versois	...	Francesca
Stanley Baker	...	O'Donovan
James Robertson Justice	...	Warren Ingram
Maurice Denham	...	Ted Thornhill
Michael Medwin	...	Ginger
Paul Muller	...	Petersen
Lee Patterson	...	Johnny Carpenter
Anne Heywood	...	Gabriela
Anthony Oliver	...	Michael
Philip Gilbert	...	Eddie
MacDonald Hobley	...	Commentator
Robert Rietty	...	Frontier Guard
Andreas Malandrinos	...	Night Watchman
Dino Galvani	...	Hotel Hall Porter

Storyline

Stanley Baker's character is sent to steal the plans from another company of their racing car designs, to ensure his employers win the competition. However when opening a safe containing the plans, he triggers an alarm leading to a gun battle where he kills a number of people. James Robertson Justice alarmed by the scandal surrounding the killings orders his agent be killed surreptitiously to hide his involvement with the plot.

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Plot Keywords:

car | thief

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Taglines:

120 MPH on a Road Built for an Ox Cart

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 January 1957 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Straße des Todes

Filming Locations:

Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rank Organisation, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

Anthony Steel was nearly fired because of his out of control drink of problem.

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Soundtracks

"La Tarantelle de Belphegor"
(uncredited)
Music by Roch-Albert (pseudonym of Louis Antoine Jullien)
Arranged by Jacob (Will) Kappey

User Reviews

Enjoyable and fast paced thriller

I taped Checkpoint when Channel 4 screened it one afternoon earlier this year (2006) and quite enjoyed it.

A man, O'Donovan breaks into a car factory to steal some plans for new models of racing cars to ensure his company wins the forthcoming race. But things go wrong and gets spotted resulting in him killing a security guard and several coppers who were sent to see what was going on at the factory after an alarm was triggered. The factory then catches fire. Later, O'Donovan enters the race himself and threatens his driver with a gun and both end up in a cliff hanging position, literally...

This movie contains some great Italian scenery and nice to see some classic cars too.

A great cast: Stanley Baker (Zulu) as O'Donovan, James Robertson Justice (Mobey Dick, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Anthony Steel, Maurice Denham, Odile Versois, Michael Medwin and Anne Heywood.

Watch out for Checkpoint in TV listings, doesn't seem to have been released on video or DVD anywhere. A treat.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5.