There seemed to be more double/cryptic definitions than we are used to in a Cinephile puzzle, and there wasn’t much evidence of his trademark liberties, so I didn’t find this as enjoyable as some of his offerings.
I don’t think there was sufficient material in the linked clues to say that there was a theme, but I rather liked the connection between 11,17 and 22,24 with the 3 of the 29 no doubt unhappy at the loss of tax revenue and probably the 19,17 as well.
As sometimes happens with Cinephile, there are a couple of clues (10ac & 3dn) where I am not entirely sure/happy about the parsing.
Across
9 PLAYHOUSE dd – the Stock Exchange is also referred to as The House.
10 ALIBI A LIB (party) I (comes first?) – I see that ‘I’ can be ‘first’ but not ‘comes first’ so what is ‘comes’ doing in this clue?
11,17 CABINET MINISTER CABINET (piece of furniture) I in MINSTER (church) – SS 11,17 is the name of the ship that sinks in Compton Mackenzie’s novel 22,24.
12 VALIANT NAIL (fixer) reversed in VAT (tank)
13 EAT dd
14 EARTHQUAKES *(THE K A SQUARE)
17 MODEL MO (way of working {modus operandi}) DE (of French) L (pupil)
18 SPA SPA[ce] (church leaves room)
19 PRIME dd
21 NEW BRIGHTON *(BREW) in *(NOTHING)
23 TAG dd
25 SLITHER SLIT (cut) HER (female)
27 BESTIAL *(TABLE IS)
28 ESKER [w]ESKER (dramatist losing head) – Sir Arnold Wesker
29 EXCHEQUER EX (old) CHEQUE (way to pay) R (king)
Down
1 APACHE d&cd – a reference to Les Apaches
2 RABBITED RABBI (17 down {minister}) TED (boy)
3 CHANCELLOR CHANCE (fortune) ROLL (come on) reversed – I assume that ‘come on’ = ‘roll’ in the sense of ‘make progress’ though I cannot think of a sentence where the two could be interchanged (but I haven’t tried very hard!). The alternative is that the clue is intended to mean ‘this word’ when put on ‘up’ means ‘come’ (ie roll up = come) but then there is no reversal indicator.
4,6 HUNT BALL HUNT (seek) BALL (what was struck)
5 HEAVY HEART d&cd
7 HIJACK HI JACK (call to sailor)
8 DISTASTE hidden in ‘saDIST AS TEmpting’
15 ROSE GARDEN NED (small boy) RAGES (is furious) OR reversed – a reference to the Joanne Greenberg novel, and subsequent film and play, or the Joe South song.
16 UNPUNISHED UN (International body) NI (Northern Ireland) in PUSHED (in difficulties)
20 INTRIGUE IN (trendy) RIG (outfit) in TUE[sday] (part of day)
22,24 WHISKY GALORE SKY (heaven) in WHIG (old Liberal) A LORE (lot of information) – see 11,17 for reference link.
26,27 HARDBACK d&cd
Thanks, Gaufrid.
I share your doubts about 10ac.
In 3dn, how about ‘Let the good times roll’?
Hi Eileen
Thanks, your example for 3dn works if we take roll=come on=start or begin.
Hi Gaufrid
Chambers gives ‘get under way’, which seems to be synonymous.
Agreed that this was solid, but with no real jaw-dropping moments. 15D gave me most amusement at the moment of solving. I was unaware of the town at 21A, but it was generously clued. And was surprised that there was no attempt to use the answer at 14A in the clue for 5D
As Gaufrid mentions, 10A is a little questionable, but the intent is pretty unambiguous. Plus I can well imagine that Cinephile has written more clues for the word ALIBI than I’ve had hot breakfasts!
Thanks Gaufrid.
As you say not one of Cinephile’s best but still pretty good fun.I liked the linked clues which have a local connection for me.Compton Mackenzie having once been the tenant of two of the Channel Islands.
Favourite clues WHISKY GALORE and HARDBACK,which brought a smile.