Intro"The Squeaker" (also referred to as "The Squeeker" or "Diezinker") is a 1963 West German crime film directed by Alfred Vohrer and based on the 1927 book of the same name by Edgar Wallace. The film is embeded in London's underworld and follows Inspector Bill Elford's efforts to decipher the identity of a mysterious criminal called The Squeaker, who blackmails other wrongdoers and notifies the authorities of their activities when they fail to adhere to his needs.
PlotThe movie opens with a burglary at a London auction home perpetrated by Patrick "Paddy" Flint, who takes a valuable pendant and is pursued by cops. He looks for the help of a criminal physician, Dr. Lomond, who works for The Squeaker however is ultimately captured by the cops. Flint believes himself to be safe from The Squeaker's clutches; nevertheless, he is eliminated by a poisoned cigarette.
Inspector Bill Elford, who is covertly in love with Flint's daughter, Muriel, handles the case of The Squeaker's identity. He discovers that the bad guy's coded messages are often revealed in an individual ad section of the newspaper. Meanwhile, Muriel works at a nightclub run by Josh Barthy, who remains in league with The Squeaker. When Barthy finds out that Muriel has actually read the encoded messages, he fires her and sets 2 criminals to keep an eye on her.
As Elford examines The Squeaker's network, a thief called Larry "Gloves" Grainger seeks refuge at Dr. Lomond's center after a robbery goes wrong. He hands over a valuable bracelet as payment for his medical treatment, inadvertently exposing that he is the burglar The Squeaker has actually been seeking. Grainger is advised to leave London by a fellow thief, however instead, he ends up being connected to Sally, the center's singer and The Squeaker's informant.
Climax and ResolutionA double-cross in between The Squeaker and Barthy leads Barthy to seek vengeance and unmask the true identity of The Squeaker. Helped by his henchman, he abducts Muriel, meaning to use her as bait to allure The Squeaker. At this point, Elford discovers that Barthy has actually taken Muriel, and he rushes to save her. In the process, he faces a tense standoff against Barthy and The Squeaker's representatives, culminating in a thrilling face-off at the crook's burrow.
In the end, Elford saves Muriel, and Barthy is fatally injured. On the other hand, Sally finds the true identity of The Squeaker: Dr. Lomond himself. Cornered, the physician attempts to use the poison cigarette trick that eliminated Flint but is foiled by Larry "Gloves" Grainger, who switched the poisoned cigarette with a safe one earlier. Elford catches Dr. Lomond prior to he gets away, and he confesses to the crimes before dying.
With The Squeaker's identity exposed, Inspector Elford and Muriel grow better, with their future looking brilliant. Larry Grainger chooses to leave his criminal past behind and pursue a life with Sally.
Conclusion"The Squeaker" is a traditional mid-20th century crime thriller that braids mystery, action, and romance. With its complex plot, memorable characters, and unexpected twists, the movie keeps viewers engaged and guessing till the very end. The adaptation of Edgar Wallace's novel is a standout example of the "krimi" subgenre that was popular in West Germany at the time, and it stays an entertaining and suspenseful crime drama today.
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