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The Best Episodes of Checkmate Season 1

Every episode of Checkmate Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Checkmate Season 1!

Binge this in 1d 1h•Peaking at 8.1/10

Checkmate is an American detective television series starring Anthony George, Sebastian Cabot, and Doug McClure. The show aired on CBS Television from 1960 to 1962 for a total of 70 episodes and was produced by

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Checkmate Season 1 Episode 1 - Death Runs Wild
    7.3/10(40 votes)

    #1 - Death Runs Wild

    S1:E1

    Story tells of a demented woman out to kill private eye Anthony George. The instrument of death, as it turned out, was, a wild stallion she stocked on her ranch. Her motive was revenge. On a previous case, the private eye had brought her lover to justice and the gas chamber.

    Directors:Jules Munshin, Jules Bricken
    Writers:James Gunn, John Kneubuhl

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  2. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 2 - Interrupted Honeymoon
    7.2/10(35 votes)

    #2 - Interrupted Honeymoon

    S1:E2

    No description available

    Director:Herschel Daugherty
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 3 - The Cyanide Touch
    7.2/10(26 votes)

    #3 - The Cyanide Touch

    S1:E3

    No description available

    Director:Don Weis
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 4 - Lady on the Brink
    7.5/10(27 votes)

    #4 - Lady on the Brink

    S1:E4

    Checkmate comes to the aid of a woman with a traumatic past when it becomes evident that someone is trying to make it appear she's mentally unstable. discrediting her eye-witness testimony at a murder trial.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Howard Browne

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  5. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 5 - Face in the Window
    6.9/10(28 votes)

    #5 - Face in the Window

    S1:E5

    No description available

    Director:Robert Florey
    Writer:Leigh Brackett

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  6. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 6 - Runaway
    7.6/10(23 votes)

    #6 - Runaway

    S1:E6

    A girl shows up at Corey's apartment, claiming that she is running from someone who is trying to kill her. However, the detectives all find that nothing she has said checks out, including her numerous aliases, and that she's actually an heiress running from a controlling grandmother. But it does appear that the part about someone trying to kill her may be the truth.

    Director:Don Medford
    Writer:James Gunn

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  7. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 7 - Target: Tycoon
    6.5/10(17 votes)

    #7 - Target: Tycoon

    S1:E7

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 8 - The Deadly Shadow
    6.8/10(22 votes)

    #8 - The Deadly Shadow

    S1:E8

    No description available

    Director:Don Weis
    Writer:William P. McGivern

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  9. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 9 - The Dark Divide
    6.9/10(17 votes)

    #9 - The Dark Divide

    S1:E9

    Barbara Rush plays a dual role in The dark divide. Why should Margaret Russell's life be threatened? Her aunt keeps getting phone calls from a woman named Nikki Garnett, threatening Margaret. What motive could the woman have?

    Director:Don Weis
    Writer:James Gunn

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  10. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 10 - Moment of Truth
    6.8/10(20 votes)

    #10 - Moment of Truth

    S1:E10

    No description available

    Director:Walter Doniger
    Writer:Jameson Brewer

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  11. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 11 - The Mask of Vengeance
    6.6/10(15 votes)

    #11 - The Mask of Vengeance

    S1:E11

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 12 - The Murder Game
    8.1/10(20 votes)

    #12 - The Murder Game

    S1:E12

    Attorney Emory Olivant invites Corey, Sills and Dr. Hyatt to a party. Once all the guests have arrived, Olivant announces that they are going to play a game—a murder game in which he will be the killer.

    Director:Douglas Heyes
    Writer:Douglas Heyes

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  13. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 13 - The Princess in the Tower
    6.8/10(15 votes)

    #13 - The Princess in the Tower

    S1:E13

    No description available

    Director:Herschel Daugherty
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 14 - The Terror from the East
    5.7/10(18 votes)

    #14 - The Terror from the East

    S1:E14

    No description available

    Director:Herschel Daugherty
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 15 - The Human Touch
    7.2/10(52 votes)

    #15 - The Human Touch

    S1:E15

    Arguably the finest episode of the series, featuring guest star Peter Lorre as an ex-con criminal mastermind determined to wreak revenge on master criminologist Sebastian Cabot. An intricate series of cat and mouse moves between the two geniuses culminates in a surprise and ultimately poignant ending, befitting the episode title. This episode stresses the close friendships between the three detectives of CHECKMATE INCORPORATED as it contrasts with that of the brilliant, but soulless Lorre. Directing, writing and acting are all exemplary.

    Director:Don Weis
    Writer:James Gunn

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  16. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 16 - Hour of Execution
    6.4/10(17 votes)

    #16 - Hour of Execution

    S1:E16

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 17 - Don't Believe a Word She Says
    8.0/10(19 votes)

    #17 - Don't Believe a Word She Says

    S1:E17

    No description available

    Director:Sidney Lanfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 18 - Laugh Till I Die
    7.1/10(21 votes)

    #18 - Laugh Till I Die

    S1:E18

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 19 - Between Two Guns
    6.9/10(14 votes)

    #19 - Between Two Guns

    S1:E19

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 20 - A Matter of Conscience
    6.9/10(18 votes)

    #20 - A Matter of Conscience

    S1:E20

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 21 - Melody for Murder
    6.7/10(15 votes)

    #21 - Melody for Murder

    S1:E21

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 22 - Phantom Lover
    7.0/10(15 votes)

    #22 - Phantom Lover

    S1:E22

    A woman believes her husband has killed her male friend, who can not be found. She hires Checkmate to investigate.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 23 - The Gift
    6.5/10(15 votes)

    #23 - The Gift

    S1:E23

    Lola Tuscany, a temperamental lady soprano, is having premonitions of her death. After her concert she is almost poisoned and Checkmate Inc. is hired to keep her safe. Don Corey is skeptical, believing it is a publicity stunt, until he is nearly killed when a bomb explodes in the car he and Lola are driving in.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 24 - One for the Book
    7.8/10(21 votes)

    #24 - One for the Book

    S1:E24

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Checkmate Season 1 Episode 25 - The Paper Killer
    7.0/10(22 votes)

    #25 - The Paper Killer

    S1:E25

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Death Runs Wild" is the best rated episode of "Checkmate" season 1. It scored 7.3/10 based on 40 votes. Directed by Jules Munshin, Jules Bricken and written by James Gunn, John Kneubuhl, it aired on 9/17/1960. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Interrupted Honeymoon".