Mark of the Phoenix is a 1958 British drama film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Julia Arnall, Sheldon Lawrence and Anton Diffring. An American jewel thief comes into possession of a newly developed metal.
Plot
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
Julia Arnall – Petra
Sheldon Lawrence – Chuck Martin
Anton Diffring – Inspector Schell
Eric Pohlmann – Duser
George Margo – Emilson
Michael Peake – Koos
Martin Miller – Brunet
Roger Delgado – Devron
Bernard Rebel – Vachek
Frederick Schrecker – Van de Velde
Pierre Chaminade – Hotel Receptionist
Corinne Grey – Bride
Jennifer Jayne – Airline Ticket Clerk
Edouard Assaly – Cafe Waiter
Victor Beaumont – Travel Clerk
Norma Parnell – 2nd Airline Ticket Clerk
Howard Greene – Young Detective
Tom Clegg – Strong Man
Patrick Troughton – Police Officer (uncredited)
Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This spy story has all the usual trimmings – tough, handsome American jewel thief, portly art-collector gang leader, shot scientist, secret formula and brutal foreign agents – 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.”
In British Sound Films David Quinlan wrote: ''Feverishly complicated thriller, not too well acted.''
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."