Mark of the Phoenix
Poster for French release
Directed by	Maclean Rogers
Written by	Norman Hudis
Based on	novel The Phoenix Sings by Desmond Cory[1]
Produced by	W.G. Chalmers
Starring	Julia Arnall Sheldon Lawrence Anton Diffring
Cinematography	Geoffrey Faithfull
Edited by	Harry Booth
Music by	Wilfred Burns (uncredited)
Production company	Butcher's Film Service
Distributed by	Butcher's Film Service (UK)
Release date	November 1958 (1958-11) (UK)
Running time	78 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Mark of the Phoenix is a 1958 British 'B' drama film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Julia Arnall, Sheldon Lawrence and Anton Diffring.^[2] 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.”^[3]

In British Sound Films David Quinlan wrote: ''Feverishly complicated thriller, not too well acted.''^[4]

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."^[5]