Show cover for Checkmate

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!

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 Jack Benny's production company, "JaMco Productions" in co-operation with Revue Studios. Guest stars included Charles Laughton, Peter Lorre, and Lee Marvin, among many other commensurately prominent performers.

Genres:CrimeDramaMystery
Network:CBS

Season 1 Ratings Summary

The best episode of "Checkmate" season 1 is "Death Runs Wild", rated 7.3/10 from 28 user votes. It was directed by Jules Munshin, Jules Bricken and written by James Gunn, John Kneubuhl. "Death Runs Wild" aired on 9/17/1960 and is rated 0.2 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Interrupted Honeymoon".

  • Death Runs Wild
    7.3/10 28 votes

    #1 - Death Runs Wild

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/17/1960

    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.

    Director: Jules Munshin, Jules Bricken

    Writer: James Gunn, John Kneubuhl

  • Interrupted Honeymoon
    7.1/10 29 votes

    #2 - Interrupted Honeymoon

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/24/1960

    No description available

    Director: Herschel Daugherty

    Writer: N/A

  • The Cyanide Touch
    7.0/10 23 votes

    #3 - The Cyanide Touch

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/1/1960

    No description available

    Director: Don Weis

    Writer: N/A

  • Lady on the Brink
    7.5/10 23 votes

    #4 - Lady on the Brink

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/15/1960

    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: N/A

    Writer: Howard Browne

  • Face in the Window
    7.1/10 24 votes

    #5 - Face in the Window

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/22/1960

    No description available

    Director: Robert Florey

    Writer: Leigh Brackett

  • Runaway
    7.6/10 20 votes

    #6 - Runaway

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/29/1960

    No description available

    Director: Don Medford

    Writer: James Gunn

  • Target: Tycoon
    6.3/10 15 votes

    #7 - Target: Tycoon

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/5/1960

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Deadly Shadow
    6.7/10 19 votes

    #8 - The Deadly Shadow

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/12/1960

    No description available

    Director: Don Weis

    Writer: William P. McGivern

  • The Dark Divide
    7.0/10 13 votes

    #9 - The Dark Divide

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/19/1960

    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

  • Moment of Truth
    6.9/10 17 votes

    #10 - Moment of Truth

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 11/26/1960

    No description available

    Director: Walter Doniger

    Writer: Jameson Brewer

  • The Mask of Vengeance
    6.4/10 13 votes

    #11 - The Mask of Vengeance

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/3/1960

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Murder Game
    8.0/10 15 votes

    #12 - The Murder Game

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/17/1960

    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

  • The Princess in the Tower
    6.5/10 12 votes

    #13 - The Princess in the Tower

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 12/31/1960

    No description available

    Director: Herschel Daugherty

    Writer: N/A

  • The Terror from the East
    5.5/10 14 votes

    #14 - The Terror from the East

    Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 1/7/1961

    No description available

    Director: Herschel Daugherty

    Writer: N/A

  • The Human Touch
    7.1/10 47 votes

    #15 - The Human Touch

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/14/1961

    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

  • Hour of Execution
    6.2/10 15 votes

    #16 - Hour of Execution

    Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 1/21/1961

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Don't Believe a Word She Says
    7.8/10 16 votes

    #17 - Don't Believe a Word She Says

    Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 1/28/1961

    No description available

    Director: Sidney Lanfield

    Writer: N/A

  • Laugh Till I Die
    7.1/10 18 votes

    #18 - Laugh Till I Die

    Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 2/4/1961

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Between Two Guns
    6.9/10 12 votes

    #19 - Between Two Guns

    Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 2/11/1961

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • A Matter of Conscience
    6.8/10 15 votes

    #20 - A Matter of Conscience

    Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 2/18/1961

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Melody for Murder
    6.5/10 13 votes

    #21 - Melody for Murder

    Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 2/25/1961

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Phantom Lover
    7.1/10 13 votes

    #22 - Phantom Lover

    Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 3/4/1961

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Gift
    6.5/10 13 votes

    #23 - The Gift

    Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 3/11/1961

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • One for the Book
    7.6/10 19 votes

    #24 - One for the Book

    Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 3/18/1961

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Paper Killer
    6.9/10 19 votes

    #25 - The Paper Killer

    Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 3/25/1961

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A