Its a kind of shorthand, and it gives us a lot of information.

Unfortunately, it can also take the place of decent acting, scene-setting and characterisation.

But hey, thats what we get for being so darned clever at this reading film stuff.

Since the silent era, films have used chess as code for a number of character traits.

This part of the story didnt make it into the movie version.

It was good enough to spawn a remake in 1938 with Conrad Veidt as the inventor.

From there, chess was established as easy shorthand for being deeply brainy.

For instance, inCape Fear(1962) Gregory Peck has a chess set in his office.

InDantes Peak(1997) Pierce Brosnan has a chess set on his coffee table.

Basically, if you were a professional doctor, lawyer or volcanologist, you had a chess set.

InBlade Runner(1982) JF Sebastian and Tyrell play a game of chess via videophone.

Here the creation has out-thought the creator.

Yes, computers love to play chess.

Thank goodness they decided to play noughts and crosses instead.

In fact, Hal cheats during the match.

In 1968,Thomas Crownmade chess sexy.

It was quite an accomplishment, as traditionally chess was seen as a purely male pursuit.

It was objective, and rational, and about the mind, not the body.

The editing of the chess scene is a brilliant piece of work.

Instead they go out dancing instead, which is a lot sweatier and nowhere near as sexy.

Unfortunately, empowering women by letting them play movie chess was a fairly short-lived invention.

Not a triumph for feminism.

Its not sexy either, but at least its funny.

Death and chess belong together in movie terms like Astaire and Rogers.

If youre a filmic incarnation of the Grim Reaper, youve probably got a mean endgame.

But you dont always have to dress in black and carry a scythe.

David Niven plays Peter Carter, an airman who miraculously escapes from a horrible death.

But he wasnt meant to escape.

Peter is a chess player, and so, of course, is Conductor 71.

Here chess is a metaphor for that most complex of games life.

Six films later, admittedly.

Only the very best movie heroes have a chance of winning at such games.

You dont have to be Vulcan to win at it, but it helps.

Shes preparing a series of moves to eliminate the queen from the board.

Supervillains play chess, of course how else can they keep their evil minds exercised?

Cold-hearted genius goes hand in hand with a predilection for board games in Hollywood.

Its a beautiful film, as slow and deliberate as the game itself.

It sets out to prove that the theory of game play is no substitute for living a real life.

But thats the way of cinema, isnt it?

The illusion is the important thing.

We can definitely have too many smart evil sexy androids, dont you think?

The world is safer this way, trust me.

See also:Is Computer Chess the ultimate geek indie comedy?