The Diamond (film)

The Diamond is a 1954 British film noir crime film starring Dennis O'Keefe, Margaret Sheridan and Philip Friend. It is based on the 1952 novel Rich Is the Treasure by Maurice Procter. It was released by United Artists in both Britain and America where it was known as The Diamond Wizard. It has the distinction of being Britain's first 3D film, though according to the British Film Institute, 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 2D film, however, is not lost and can be viewed on Amazon Prime while the restored 3D version was released on Blu-Ray November 2022.

The Diamond
American Release Poster
Directed byMontgomery Tully
Written byJohn C. Higgins
Based onRich Is the Treasure
by Maurice Procter
Produced bySteven Pallos
StarringDennis O'Keefe
Margaret Sheridan
Philip Friend
CinematographyArthur Graham
Gordon Lang
Edited byHelga Cranston
Music byMatyas Seiber
Color processBlack and white
Production
company
Gibraltar Films
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release dates
  • 26 April 1954 (1954-04-26) (UK)
  • 16 July 1954 (1954-07-16) (US)
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

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.

Cast

References
  1. "The Diamond / BFI Most Wanted". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  2. The Diamond Wizard at the American Film Institute Catalog
  3. "The Diamond - 1954 First British 3D Film (intro)". YouTube. Retrieved 26 May 2014.


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