The Diamond (film)
The Diamond (released in the US as The Diamond Wizard) is a 1954 British film noir crime film starring Dennis O'Keefe, Margaret Sheridan and Philip Friend. It has the distinction of being Britain's first 3D film, though according to the British Film Institute (BFI), it was shown in 3D only once, on 13 September 2006 in Hollywood.[1] Despite the 2006 showing the film was listed on the BFI 75 Most Wanted list of lost films.[1] The film, however, is not lost and can be viewed on Amazon Prime.
| The Diamond | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Montgomery Tully |
| Produced by | Steven Pallos |
| Written by | John C. Higgins |
| Based on | novel Rich is the Treasure by Maurice Procter |
| Starring | Dennis O'Keefe Margaret Sheridan Philip Friend |
| Music by | Matyas Seiber |
| Cinematography | Arthur Graham |
| Edited by | Helga Cranston |
Production company | Gibraltar Films |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 83 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Production
It was shot at Walton Studios with location filming taking place around London. The film's sets were designed by the art director Denis Wreford. It was produced by the independent British company Gibraltar Films for release by United Artists. It was O'Keefe's second role in a British film having starred in another crime-thriller The Fake the previous year.
It seems unclear who directed The Diamond. According to the British Film Institute website the British release credited British B-picture veteran Montgomery Tully as director, while the US release credited the film's American star, Dennis O'Keefe.[1] However, the US print viewed by the reviewer of the American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures credits Tully[2] while a YouTube video with the opening credits of a print bearing the British release title credits O'Keefe.[3]
Plot
After a gang pulls off a heist to acquire freshly minted dollars, American Treasury Agent Joe Dennison pursues their trail to London. With the assistance of a Scotland Yard detective, he attempts to break a racket involving the production of synthetic diamonds.
Main cast
- Dennis O'Keefe as Joe Dennison
- Margaret Sheridan as Marline Miller
- Philip Friend as Inspector McClaren
- Alan Wheatley as Thompson Blake
- Francis de Wolff as Yeo
- Eric Berry as Hunziger
- Michael Balfour as Hoxie
- Gudrun Ure as Sergeant Smith (as Ann Gudrun)
- Paul Hardtmuth as Dr. Eric Miller (as Paul Hardmuth)
- Donald Gray as Commander Gilles
- Cyril Chamberlain as Castle
- Seymour Green as Lascelles
References
- "The Diamond / BFI Most Wanted". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- The Diamond Wizard at the American Film Institute Catalog
- "The Diamond - 1954 First British 3D Film (intro)". YouTube. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
External links
- British Film Institute 75 Most Wanted entry, with extensive notes
- The Diamond Wizard on IMDb
- The Diamond Wizard at the TCM Movie Database
- The Diamond Wizard at AllMovie
- The Diamond at the BFI Database