The Thirteenth Chair (1929 film)

The Thirteenth Chair is a 1929 American pre-Code mystery film directed by Tod Browning. The picture is based on a 1916 play of the same name by Bayard Veiller. It stars Conrad Nagel, Leila Hyams and Margaret Wycherly. The supporting cast features Bela Lugosi, whom Browning would direct as Dracula two years later.

The Thirteenth Chair
Film poster
Directed by	Tod Browning
Produced by	Tod Browning
Written by	Elliott J. Clawson Joseph Farnham
Based on	The Thirteenth Chair 1916 play by Bayard Veiller
Starring	Conrad Nagel Leila Hyams Bela Lugosi
Cinematography	Merritt B. Gerstad
Edited by	Harry Reynolds
Distributed by	MGM
Release date	October 19, 1929 (1929-10-19)
Running time	72 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The film was one of many released in both sound and silent versions. The initial television airing of the sound version was by TCM on August 22, 2019.

An earlier version of the film, starring Creighton Hale, was made in 1919 by ACME/ Pathe Exchange, directed by Leonce Perret.[1] In 1937, the film was again remade by MGM, entitled The Thirteenth Chair, starring Elissa Landi and Dame May Whitty.

Plot

Inspector Delzante (Bela Lugosi), investigates a pair of murders near a British mansion in Calcutta. Helen O'Neill (Leila Hyams) becomes a chief suspect based on circumstantial evidence. A fake Irish medium, Madame LaGrange (Margaret Wycherly) was called in to try to help solve the first murder.[2]

Cast

• Conrad Nagel as Richard Crosby
• Leila Hyams as Helen "Nellie" O'Neill
• Margaret Wycherly as "Madame" Rosalie La Grange
• Helene Millard as Mary Eastwood
• Holmes Herbert as Sir Roscoe Crosby
• Mary Forbes as Lady Alice Crosby
• Bela Lugosi as Inspector Delzante
• John Davidson as Edward "Ned" Wales
• Charles Quatermaine as Dr. Philip Mason (as Charles Quartermaine)
• Moon Carroll as Helen Trent
• Cyril Chadwick as Brandon Trent
• Frank Leigh as Professor Feringeea
• Clarence Geldart as Commissioner Grimshaw (as Clarence Geldert)

Background

Advertisement for the 1919 silent version.

Margaret Wycherly, who was at one time married to the writer of The Thirteenth Chair play (Bayard Veiller), also appeared in the original 1916 play.

See also

• Béla Lugosi filmography

References

1. Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 210.ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.
2. "The Thirteenth Chair (1929) - Tod Browning - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". Retrieved September 18, 2016.

External links

• The Thirteenth Chair on IMDb
• The Thirteenth Chair at AllMovie
• The Thirteenth Chair at the TCM Movie Database
• The Thirteenth Chair at the American Film Institute Catalog