The Thirteenth Chair

1929

1h 12m

IMDb RATING

4.9/10

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Mystery

Drama

Horror

Although his murdered friend was by all accounts a scoundrel, Edward Wales is determined to trap his killer by staging a seance using a famous medium. Many of the 13 seance participants had a reason and a means to kill, and one of them uses the cover of darkness to kill again. When someone close to the medium is suspected she turns detective, in the hope of uncovering the true murderer.

Directors

Tod Browning

Writers

Elliott J. Clawson(writer by)

Bayard Veiller(theatre play by)

Stars

Conrad Nagel

Leila Hyams

Margaret Wycherly

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Top cast

Conrad Nagel

Richard Crosby

Leila Hyams

Helen 'Nellie' O'Neill

Margaret Wycherly

Madame Rosalie La Grange

Mary Eastwood

Sir Roscoe Crosby

Lady Alice Crosby

Inspector Delzante

Dr. Philip Mason

Helen Trent

Brandon Trent

Edward 'Ned' Wales

Howard Standish

Grace Standish

Professor Feringeea

Commissioner Grimshaw

Lal Chand Mehra

Chotee

Directors

Tod Browning

Writers

Elliott J. Clawson(writer by)

Bayard Veiller(theatre play by)

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Review

Featured review

4/10

Some films are known more for the trivia associated with them than their actual content – The Thirteenth Chair (1929) being one of them. As the first sound film for director Tod Browning and his first collaboration with the Hungarian emigre actor Bela Lugosi it is these points of interest in a film a few years before Dracula (1931) that draw most attention. Browning seems very restricted by the early sound recording systems and this very theatrical film plays out mostly on a single set in prolonged wide shots. The opening scene as a mysterious figure enters a building and almost steps on a pool of blood left by a murder victim is handled with some style but is one of the few visual treats in a very static film. Lugosi is very engaged in his part, talking much faster and with greater passion than his lugubrious Dracula performance, indicating the latter was very much an interpretation of his original stage part. His dramatic confrontation with the suspects is full of passion and a certain intensity. Of the remaining cast John Davidson as Edward Wales is the sole standout, bringing a creepy intensity and mystery to his role, which is portrayed as one of mystery. Existing prints of this film are fairly washed out and damaged which reduces the ability of the modern viewer to identify clearly what is going on. A full restoration might be of benefit if quality elements exist but this is far from being the forgotten masterpiece of early sound horror that a viewer might have hoped for.

CyrusPK30 Jul, 2018