The Thirteenth Chair main backdrop
The Thirteenth Chair main poster

The Thirteenth Chair

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4.9/10 • 13

1929-10-191h 12m

MysteryDramaHorror

Who Killed Spencer Lee?

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
Writters
Elliott J. Clawson
Editors
Elliott J. Clawson, Harry Reynolds

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Conrad Nagel

    Conrad Nagel

    Richard Crosby

  2. Leila Hyams

    Leila Hyams

    Helen 'Nellie' O'Neill

  3. Margaret Wycherly

    Margaret Wycherly

    Madame Rosalie La Grange

  4. Helene Millard

    Helene Millard

    Mary Eastwood

  5. Holmes Herbert

    Holmes Herbert

    Sir Roscoe Crosby

  6. Mary Forbes

    Mary Forbes

    Lady Alice Crosby

  7. Bela Lugosi

    Bela Lugosi

    Inspector Delzante

  8. Charles Quatermaine

    Charles Quatermaine

    Dr. Philip Mason

  9. Moon Carroll

    Moon Carroll

    Helen Trent

Reviews1

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CyrusPK Avatar

CyrusPK

Jul 30, 2018

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.

Media

  • The Thirteenth Chair poster
  • The Thirteenth Chair poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
whodunitkillerséancespiritualist