A little moody with an atmosphere accentuated with shadows. This mystery is based on a novel by Armitage Trail and directed by William Beaudine. This mystery from Monogram is definitely a cut above the typical B-movie of the early 40's. Family and friends wait for 13 years to hear a will to be read. Where there is the thought of money; murder is one solution of getting greed out of the way and getting one step closer to a possible fortune. A wisecracking Dick Purcell is aided by bumbling Frank Faylen in the investigation of dirty deeds going on. Helen Parrish actually carries the movie reprising the role played by Ginger Rogers in 1932. Thirteen guests in a dimly lighted mansion and plenty of suspense. Other players include: John Duncan, Cyril Ring, Addison Richards, Tim Ryan and Jacqueline Dalya.
30 Reviews
A Fantastic, Unknown Murder Mystery
gavin694226 February 2013
A young woman's grandfather hosts a dinner party for thirteen guests, and he mysteriously dies. Thirteen years later, the woman believes that someone connected to the fatal party is trying to kill her.
I had never heard of this film before, and I doubt very many people have. Which is a shame. It has a good pace, a good story, and wraps up in around an hour. This is the kind of film anyone could enjoy.
In some ways, it has the feel of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None", but it is its own story and should not be written off as a derivative narrative. Well, unless you consider it derivative of the previous incarnation, "The Thirteenth Guest" (1932). As I have not seen that version, I cannot comment.
I had never heard of this film before, and I doubt very many people have. Which is a shame. It has a good pace, a good story, and wraps up in around an hour. This is the kind of film anyone could enjoy.
In some ways, it has the feel of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None", but it is its own story and should not be written off as a derivative narrative. Well, unless you consider it derivative of the previous incarnation, "The Thirteenth Guest" (1932). As I have not seen that version, I cannot comment.
A young girl arrives at her ancestral home and is...
Cinebug15 August 1998
A young girl arrives at her ancestral home and is promptly murdered-- -or is she? Twelve years earlier the murdered woman, as a little girl, had attended a birthday party for her dying grandfather. Thirteen partygoers were invited but only twelve attended. The thirteenth guest was death.
Now, in the present, the original twelve guests are members of the family fighting over the will and someone wants the money badly enough to kill for it. Detective Dick Purcell is called in to solve the crime, aided by comic sidekicks and the usual inept policemen who only seem to inhabit "B" mysteries. Directed by William "One Shot" Beaudine, this 60 minute quickie is a darn good version of the Armitage Trail mystery and manages to be a little better that its 1932 predecessor-----though for some reason the 1943 film is much more difficult to see.
Now, in the present, the original twelve guests are members of the family fighting over the will and someone wants the money badly enough to kill for it. Detective Dick Purcell is called in to solve the crime, aided by comic sidekicks and the usual inept policemen who only seem to inhabit "B" mysteries. Directed by William "One Shot" Beaudine, this 60 minute quickie is a darn good version of the Armitage Trail mystery and manages to be a little better that its 1932 predecessor-----though for some reason the 1943 film is much more difficult to see.
Very very very silly and contrived--lots of campy gloom!
secondtake24 November 2010
Mystery of the 13th Guest (1943)
I have to admit, I started this with too high expectations--it had great mood, great B-movie sets, and a plot that sounded great in an Agatha Christie way. But then the corny style of acting kicked in--it's a kind of pre-TV flippant entertainment, purposely aiming for a slight, silly humor at the expense of real drama. Too bad.
So I watched the rest with half an eye, which was enough. The plot is highly contrived and highly important--it's a whodunnit, for sure, with a series of growing clues and new characters. The detective is just too absurd to work--he doesn't even serve as a parody of the newly crystallizing Bogart kind of hardboiled detective. And there a too many scenes with a lot of people standing around a room (a living room or a detective's office), with not a lot of clear tension of development, just exaggerated chitchat.
So, why watch it at all? I'm not sure! But I did, from the side, and there are some great stereotypes (call them clichés) at work--dark shadows of men in fedoras, a haunted old house, a murder and the threat of more murder, even a terrific (haha) trap door. It verges on Three Stooges kind of humor now and then but lacks the true slapstick genius (at times) of those guys (who began in the 1930s and were really big by the 1943), but you can sense an echo of them (one of the detectives even makes little Curly and Moe noises). This version of the movies is actually a remake of a better if not brilliant 1932 film, starring a young Ginger Rogers (and available to see free and legal at this site: www.archive.org/details/The_Thirteenth_Guest).
If you are really feeling frivolous, this might be fun. But your are forewarned.
I have to admit, I started this with too high expectations--it had great mood, great B-movie sets, and a plot that sounded great in an Agatha Christie way. But then the corny style of acting kicked in--it's a kind of pre-TV flippant entertainment, purposely aiming for a slight, silly humor at the expense of real drama. Too bad.
So I watched the rest with half an eye, which was enough. The plot is highly contrived and highly important--it's a whodunnit, for sure, with a series of growing clues and new characters. The detective is just too absurd to work--he doesn't even serve as a parody of the newly crystallizing Bogart kind of hardboiled detective. And there a too many scenes with a lot of people standing around a room (a living room or a detective's office), with not a lot of clear tension of development, just exaggerated chitchat.
So, why watch it at all? I'm not sure! But I did, from the side, and there are some great stereotypes (call them clichés) at work--dark shadows of men in fedoras, a haunted old house, a murder and the threat of more murder, even a terrific (haha) trap door. It verges on Three Stooges kind of humor now and then but lacks the true slapstick genius (at times) of those guys (who began in the 1930s and were really big by the 1943), but you can sense an echo of them (one of the detectives even makes little Curly and Moe noises). This version of the movies is actually a remake of a better if not brilliant 1932 film, starring a young Ginger Rogers (and available to see free and legal at this site: www.archive.org/details/The_Thirteenth_Guest).
If you are really feeling frivolous, this might be fun. But your are forewarned.
Beaudine at his Monogram best!
JohnHowardReid31 January 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Despite some unfortunate comedy relief which tends to shatter the atmospheric mood so carefully built up by photographer, Mack Stengler – fully half the film is photographed in eerie darkness – this one emerges as a moderately exciting mystery thriller. Not the least of its intriguing aspects is how the star of the picture, who is killed in the first five minutes, is going to be revived. The situation itself is compelling, the plot devices offbeat and William Beaudine's direction – including an ingenious 350 degree pan – a considerable cut above his usual take-it-or-lump-it average. The cast is capable – in fact, Helen Parrish makes a really attractive heroine – and by Monogram's stingy standards, production values are quite fair.
If You Enjoy the Genre.....
Michael_Elliott4 December 2010
Mystery of the 13th Guest, The (1943)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Decent "B" movie about a family getting together for the eldest to announce that his will won't be read for another thirteen years after his granddaughter turns twenty-one. Thirteen years later the guests at that party start turning up dead so it's up to a private detective (Dick Purcell) and a Police Lt. (Tim Ryan) to figure out who's doing the killings. If you're looking for high art then you're not going to find it here but if you're looking for an hour to kill with some light entertainment then you might find this Monogram quickie entertaining. Old 'One Shot' Beaudine certainly doesn't do anything overly special with this murder-mystery but he at least keeps the pace up so that the brief 60-minutes go by quickly and without too much dead space. The screenplay itself certainly doesn't try to do anything ground breaking but it keeps the characters interesting and the murderer under wraps until the very end, which is pretty much all you can ask for out of a film like this. Purcell does a pretty good job with his role and makes the fast-talking wise guy fun to watch. His back-and-forth banter with Ryan is pretty entertaining and Helen Parrish makes for a good female lead. Frank Faylen plays the dimwitted cop and gets a few laughs. The rest of the cast are serviceable and give pretty much what you'd expect out of them. The mystery itself is a pretty good one as I found the murder weapon (an electrical wire attached to a phone) to be quite fun and all the horror trappings like the mysterious hidden doors and traps to help keep things moving. No one is ever going to mistake this film for a classic but if you're a fan of the genre then you'll know that there's much worse out there.
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Decent "B" movie about a family getting together for the eldest to announce that his will won't be read for another thirteen years after his granddaughter turns twenty-one. Thirteen years later the guests at that party start turning up dead so it's up to a private detective (Dick Purcell) and a Police Lt. (Tim Ryan) to figure out who's doing the killings. If you're looking for high art then you're not going to find it here but if you're looking for an hour to kill with some light entertainment then you might find this Monogram quickie entertaining. Old 'One Shot' Beaudine certainly doesn't do anything overly special with this murder-mystery but he at least keeps the pace up so that the brief 60-minutes go by quickly and without too much dead space. The screenplay itself certainly doesn't try to do anything ground breaking but it keeps the characters interesting and the murderer under wraps until the very end, which is pretty much all you can ask for out of a film like this. Purcell does a pretty good job with his role and makes the fast-talking wise guy fun to watch. His back-and-forth banter with Ryan is pretty entertaining and Helen Parrish makes for a good female lead. Frank Faylen plays the dimwitted cop and gets a few laughs. The rest of the cast are serviceable and give pretty much what you'd expect out of them. The mystery itself is a pretty good one as I found the murder weapon (an electrical wire attached to a phone) to be quite fun and all the horror trappings like the mysterious hidden doors and traps to help keep things moving. No one is ever going to mistake this film for a classic but if you're a fan of the genre then you'll know that there's much worse out there.
Not as good as the original.
Norm-3025 February 2000
I've met several people who feel that this version is much better than the original (Ginger Rogers / Lyle Talbot) picture. I disagree.
All the "spookiness" from the original (including the black-robed 'phantom') is gone, and the film is "just another mystery".
But, to each his own!
Norm
All the "spookiness" from the original (including the black-robed 'phantom') is gone, and the film is "just another mystery".
But, to each his own!
Norm
weird murder mystery
ksf-221 March 2021
This one starts out as a murder mystery, then turns into a cheap comedy. but people are still being murdered. and instead of taking it seriously, everyone cracks jokes. it feels as if the director had just worked with the three stooges. which he HAD! director Bill Beaudine was known for his comedies, but it just didn't work when the detectives and the police are trying to figure out who is knocking off members of a family. and how they are doing it. the usual secret passages and devices. and the explanation for the extra chair at a family dinner was so obscure, it's amazing that anyone figured out why it was there. it's kind of explained near the end.. it's related to where the bank box is....although a lot of the mystery is just verbally summed up by the cops. this one is just so so. not anyone's best work.
Mystery not solved, and not really worth solving
Jeffison453 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I have watched this twice. The 2nd time b/c I realized the 13th guest was never revealed or discussed.
It refers to an empty chair at Grandpa's dramatic insult-fest table when Marie was 8. Also unexplained are the circumstances of the first, red-herring murder victim. And this page points out there was no reason to disfavor Marie's brother. And when I think about it, how did giving an 8-year old a secret letter not make her a target for murder not just at age 21, but for all the intervening years. Also, I wasn't impressed with the cops' banter with each other or the detective/love interest for Marie.
It refers to an empty chair at Grandpa's dramatic insult-fest table when Marie was 8. Also unexplained are the circumstances of the first, red-herring murder victim. And this page points out there was no reason to disfavor Marie's brother. And when I think about it, how did giving an 8-year old a secret letter not make her a target for murder not just at age 21, but for all the intervening years. Also, I wasn't impressed with the cops' banter with each other or the detective/love interest for Marie.
Plain old bad
bensonmum26 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The biggest mystery in The Mystery of the 13th Guest is how do you take an idea with promise and an interesting set-up and create an absolutely horrible movie? The makings of a fairly entertaining movie are there. An old man, about to kick the bucket, invites his mostly ungrateful family to dine with him so that he might go over the contents of his will. There are twelve people at the dinner, but thirteen chairs. Years later, just as his heir is set to inherit, one by one, the members of the dinner party are killed off and their bodies are placed in the same chair in which they sat thirteen years previous. Sounds pretty good, huh?
So, who's the 13th chair for? Well, that's one of the most frustrating aspects of the movie. The movie never bothers to solve the titular mystery of the 13th guest. They mention it at the dinner party, but as far as I know, we never discover the answer.
The second and even more frustrating thing with The Mystery of the 13th Guest is all of the lame comedy. Every single character is a would-be comedian. It's all so annoying. And to make matters even worse, none (and I mean absolutely none) of the comedy is the slightest bit funny. It all goes over like a lead balloon. The most egregious offender is a character named Speed Dugan played by Frank Faylen. Never in my life have I wanted a character to die as much as this one. He's painful to watch.
If you haven't gotten it yet, I don't care for this movie at all. I'm often accused by my family of liking any movie made before 1970. Well, from now on, I'm going to use The Mystery of the 13th Guest as an example of a "classic" film that I cannot stomach. It's just so God awful.
2/10.
So, who's the 13th chair for? Well, that's one of the most frustrating aspects of the movie. The movie never bothers to solve the titular mystery of the 13th guest. They mention it at the dinner party, but as far as I know, we never discover the answer.
The second and even more frustrating thing with The Mystery of the 13th Guest is all of the lame comedy. Every single character is a would-be comedian. It's all so annoying. And to make matters even worse, none (and I mean absolutely none) of the comedy is the slightest bit funny. It all goes over like a lead balloon. The most egregious offender is a character named Speed Dugan played by Frank Faylen. Never in my life have I wanted a character to die as much as this one. He's painful to watch.
If you haven't gotten it yet, I don't care for this movie at all. I'm often accused by my family of liking any movie made before 1970. Well, from now on, I'm going to use The Mystery of the 13th Guest as an example of a "classic" film that I cannot stomach. It's just so God awful.
2/10.
My update of my 2002 review of The Mystery of the 13th Guest
jhumlong-120 July 2017
I want to inject some personal information that I learned after my original 2002 review of same. I made contact with Johnny Duncan who starred as Harold Morgan in the movie. We connected thru his fan club and I conversed with him about the film and Helen Parrish, the star. We exchanged emails initially and then he gave me his phone number so we could talk in person. He was at that time the only living actor of the film. We reminisced about the actual making of the film and his interactions with William Beaudine and Helen Parrish. He confirmed Helen was as beautiful in person as she appeared on screen. The had lunch every day at the Monogram lunch room and he said they even ate with Bela Lugosi! He had on his makeup described as a greenish grease paint as he was also in a horror film at that time. He described Beaudine as man in motion, constantly making last minute changes to the scrip and never call "cut" unless the camera film broke! He remembered the movie took about 6 days to complete and then they had a party with all the actors and stage hands. I also told Duncan I had 16mm prints of 13th Guest, Batman and Robin serial and Delinquent Daughters, three of his best films in my opinion. He also invited me to come and see him in the Ozark's in Mo. He sent me an autographed picture of himself in costume as Robin in color. At that time he was still active and even as he said, mowing his lawn in his 80's. I never made it down there and found out he passed last year at 89. In my original review of 2002, I mentioned Dick Purcell, playing Johnny Smith was a reporter, He was actually a PI (private investigator). He died in 1944 (39 yrs old) after playing 18 holes on a Beverly Hills Golf Course. In closing for anyone interested in conversing further about The Mystery of the 13th Guest film or the actors especially Helen Parish or Johnny Duncan, feel free to contact me thru Facebook or the review.
Did you hear about the Morgans?
mark.waltz23 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
This is a neat B thriller which rises above its Z grade studio. Even for a remake, this complex thriller remains fresh and entertaining today. There is something to be said for one-shot only director William Beaudine's method in many of his films and here, the actors all meet the challenge. The pace is quick, the dialog crisp and the low-budget pretty much hidden thanks to professional technical work. Yes, it lacks the polish of the major studios as well as a well-known cast, but what it lacks on that front, it makes up for in fun.
The original film ("The Thirteenth Guest") starred a young Ginger Rogers in the dual role of a young heiress and an impostor. This version puts Helen Parrish in those parts as she recalls a dinner party from 13 years before where her Grandfather Morgan made an announcement regarding the future of his estate before dying. The Morgans are indeed a greedy bunch, and before the night is over, a few of them will be joining their grandfather in the family crypt.
The plot certainly was not an original one but twists and turns in the plot, a great deal of humor and the quick pace makes this even better than the original. Adapter Tim Ryan also plays the detective and is also remembered as the husband and vaudeville partner of Irene Ryan, T.V.'s Granny.
The original film ("The Thirteenth Guest") starred a young Ginger Rogers in the dual role of a young heiress and an impostor. This version puts Helen Parrish in those parts as she recalls a dinner party from 13 years before where her Grandfather Morgan made an announcement regarding the future of his estate before dying. The Morgans are indeed a greedy bunch, and before the night is over, a few of them will be joining their grandfather in the family crypt.
The plot certainly was not an original one but twists and turns in the plot, a great deal of humor and the quick pace makes this even better than the original. Adapter Tim Ryan also plays the detective and is also remembered as the husband and vaudeville partner of Irene Ryan, T.V.'s Granny.
B Movie Disaster
RDOwens25 July 2011
Perhaps I am not as well-versed in movie history as others are. I don't know what a Monogram film is.
I like mysteries and it was recommended in Netflix. I was surprised to see it only lasted an hour. Of course, well before the hour was up I was grateful for that fact.
This is not a good movie. It's akin to a bad short story; you just have to finish even though you know it's not going to get any better.
The grandfather dies and the folks who were at dinner 13 years before begin dying off. Who is responsible? We eventually find out, but there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to why that person is responsible.
The dialogue is insipid. The acting is not good. The lighting doesn't seem too good either. There's the hard-edge detective and the campy one-liners. It just didn't work.
Spare yourself; there are better movies out there. There's nothing about this that I find worth sitting through.
I like mysteries and it was recommended in Netflix. I was surprised to see it only lasted an hour. Of course, well before the hour was up I was grateful for that fact.
This is not a good movie. It's akin to a bad short story; you just have to finish even though you know it's not going to get any better.
The grandfather dies and the folks who were at dinner 13 years before begin dying off. Who is responsible? We eventually find out, but there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to why that person is responsible.
The dialogue is insipid. The acting is not good. The lighting doesn't seem too good either. There's the hard-edge detective and the campy one-liners. It just didn't work.
Spare yourself; there are better movies out there. There's nothing about this that I find worth sitting through.
Director William Beaudine is No Val Lewton
But Infinitely More Prolific
LeonLouisRicci30 September 2014
For Every Good Thing in this Remake from Director William "One Shot" Beaudine, there are Bad Things that Make it a Tough Watch. The Monogram Studio was Known for its Low Rent Productions and Often Hid that Shortcoming with Darkness. But Beaudine, Unfortunately, One of the Most Prolific Directors Ever, was No Val Lewton.
So the Mystery Element is Succinct with its Foreboding Look and Musty Surroundings but is Negated by the God-Awful Comedy Relief that is so Prevalent, this Must be Called a Mystery-Comedy. Even the Masked Killer, while Looking Ominous behind the Peep Hole, is "Overshadowed" by the Goofiness of the "Sleeping Detective".
Overall, if Lowbrid Compilations of Inept Slapstick and Silliness Mixes Well with Your Mystery Movie Input, then Have at it. But Most Viewers will Find this Dated and Dumb with Only a Smattering of Interest Interspersed Among the Shenanigans.
Note...To this Day no one has uncovered the "Thirteenth Guest", and the identity remains a "Mystery".
So the Mystery Element is Succinct with its Foreboding Look and Musty Surroundings but is Negated by the God-Awful Comedy Relief that is so Prevalent, this Must be Called a Mystery-Comedy. Even the Masked Killer, while Looking Ominous behind the Peep Hole, is "Overshadowed" by the Goofiness of the "Sleeping Detective".
Overall, if Lowbrid Compilations of Inept Slapstick and Silliness Mixes Well with Your Mystery Movie Input, then Have at it. But Most Viewers will Find this Dated and Dumb with Only a Smattering of Interest Interspersed Among the Shenanigans.
Note...To this Day no one has uncovered the "Thirteenth Guest", and the identity remains a "Mystery".
Who was that 13th guest?
bkoganbing26 May 2014
Grandfather Lloyd Ingraham invites his family for dinner, but this is one greedy family. Twelve show up with a place set for a 13th guest that never arrives. At that party Ingraham tells all of them what a greedy, grasping group they are and announces that his fortune is going to his granddaughter who is 8 at the time on her 21st birthday. He gives a letter to his lawyer to be opened on her 21st birthday.
With the arrival of the granddaughter 13 years later played by Helen Parrish bodies of the guests start dropping. One of them hires private detective Dick Purcell to find out about the deaths and the mysterious as yet unopened letter.
This is a remake of an early Monogram feature that had a slightly better cast to it with the heiress played by Ginger Rogers. I'll be checking that one out soon as it is available for viewing.
Hopefully it is not characterized by the sloppiness of Mystery Of The 13th Guest. Bad editing, bad writing, and perfunctory performances. A typical Monogram feature.
With the arrival of the granddaughter 13 years later played by Helen Parrish bodies of the guests start dropping. One of them hires private detective Dick Purcell to find out about the deaths and the mysterious as yet unopened letter.
This is a remake of an early Monogram feature that had a slightly better cast to it with the heiress played by Ginger Rogers. I'll be checking that one out soon as it is available for viewing.
Hopefully it is not characterized by the sloppiness of Mystery Of The 13th Guest. Bad editing, bad writing, and perfunctory performances. A typical Monogram feature.
Bad-poor-oh my
ziprap1 December 2013
Like some of the other reviewers, I agree this was a bad, poorly made movie. The story line is good, but the comedic spots seem out of place in what appears to be a dramatic story. I would have liked to have seen a list of the full cast as I enjoy looking up what other films the actors have done. For instance, the child actor who portrayed young Bud also portrayed young George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life". Interestingly enough, the goofy cop in this movie played the taxi driver in "It's a Wonderful Life".
I found the portrayal of the valet in very poor taste and offensive. I know African American actors had little choice in their roles at the time, so I don't blame the actor, but the writer, director and producer. I'm looking forward to viewing the other movie version with Ginger Rogers. It can't be this bad. Oh my!
I found the portrayal of the valet in very poor taste and offensive. I know African American actors had little choice in their roles at the time, so I don't blame the actor, but the writer, director and producer. I'm looking forward to viewing the other movie version with Ginger Rogers. It can't be this bad. Oh my!
Just plain bad
cherold8 January 2011
I'm a big fan of B detective movies with wise-cracking heroes, but few of them are as bad as this one. The acting is abysmal, the dialog is flat (with characters making embarrassingly inappropriate attempts at witticisms), the story has a vaguely interesting premise but it goes nowhere.
At least I think it goes nowhere. Honestly, about halfway through this hour-long movie my attention wandered and I went over to work on my computer while the movie kept running. I definitely missed some important plot points - for example, I have no idea who the 13th guest turned out to be, assuming that was ever explained. But giving this movie half my attention was still more attention than it deserved.
At least I think it goes nowhere. Honestly, about halfway through this hour-long movie my attention wandered and I went over to work on my computer while the movie kept running. I definitely missed some important plot points - for example, I have no idea who the 13th guest turned out to be, assuming that was ever explained. But giving this movie half my attention was still more attention than it deserved.
What a great movie. Monogram at it's best!!
jhumlong31 January 2002
The Mystery of the 13th Guest is a not a typical example of the 40's Monogram pictures productions. This one outshines most of the typical "B" trappings they produced in the early 40's. 13th Guest made the most out of the typical wartime budget's and dimly lighted set versions that Monogram made famous. The female lead, Helen Parrish made it special because she was very uder-rated to say the least. She carries the film and adds some really good action to an otherwise typical haunted house movie. She reprises the Ginger Rogers role of 1932 and adds flare and style to the character. Dick Purcel is great as the wisecracking reporter. He died soon after the film was released and it was ashame as they really sparked together. I have not seen the film on tv since the late 40's and won't either. Most of the Monograms features were struck on celuloid so they aren't around anymore. My print is on Kodak safty film so it will never die!
"Say Johnny, do you think they mean to line the table with stiffs?"
classicsoncall23 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Even with all the improbable elements in the story, this is a pretty entertaining film. I say improbable because who writes a will to be read thirteen years later? I guess it might be possible, and in the case of Grandfather Morgan (Lloyd Ingraham), who hated most of his relatives, the ploy works for the movie. But then there are other imponderables as well. Like Private Detective Johnny Smith (Dick Purcell) telling the cops what to do, and insisting that Marie Morgan (Helen Parrish) destroy the '13-13-13' note. Wouldn't that have been some sort of evidence the authorities might be interested in? I guess this stuff didn't have to make sense back in the Forties when this type of mystery story was in vogue, although detectives like Charlie Chan, Bulldog Drummond and Lone Wolf Michael Lanyard operated at a slightly more sophisticated level, but only slightly. Interestingly, the only mystery gimmick used in the story was the old revolving bookcase; no lights out trick or human eyes peering out of a portrait, which were pretty common for the era. I got a kick out of Frank Faylen portraying the bumbling assistant Speed Dugan to his police chief boss, Lieutenant Burke (Tim Ryan), but then again, Burke himself was fairly incompetent compared to PI Smith. Right out of the box he reminded me of Stan Laurel with his facial features and at one point, fumbling with his top hat. With the murder mysteries at the center of the story being solved in the fairly short running time of one hour, the only one left remaining at the finale was who the thirteenth guest was. Guess what? There wasn't any!!
What a disappointment !
Byrdz22 November 2021
I had high hopes for this one after reading only the little blurb that comes up with the olde timey movies on Tubi but ... whoa .. is it ever a stinker.
II's like an expanded three stooges short directed by Ed Wood but without the charm of his ineptitude. The characters are not introduced or developed ... any of them. The running jokes are not even vaguely amusing.
It's a mess. Give it a miss !
II's like an expanded three stooges short directed by Ed Wood but without the charm of his ineptitude. The characters are not introduced or developed ... any of them. The running jokes are not even vaguely amusing.
It's a mess. Give it a miss !
The Mystery of the 13th Guest
blanche-221 November 2021
I saw an earlier version of this with Ginger Rogers.
The Mystery of the 13th Guest concerns a family of people who don't particularly get along. One night, the patriarch of the family summons all of them - with a 13th chair empty - and tells them that he is leaving his will with his lawyer. However, it is only to be opened by his then 8-year-old granddaughter when she turns 21.
When she turns 21, the granddaughter (Helen Parrish) goes to the old family dwelling - which, despite being empty has a phone and lights. Before much can happen, she is found dead by electrocution, to be followed in death by someone else.
A detective (Dick Purcell) hired by an uncle in the family, as well as Lt. Burke (Tim Ryan) work to solve the murders, realizing that the family is being knocked off according to the original seating chart.
Frank Faylen plays policeman Speed Dugan, who generates much of the humor.
We never do find out anything about that 13th guest.
A Monogram film, need I say more.
The Mystery of the 13th Guest concerns a family of people who don't particularly get along. One night, the patriarch of the family summons all of them - with a 13th chair empty - and tells them that he is leaving his will with his lawyer. However, it is only to be opened by his then 8-year-old granddaughter when she turns 21.
When she turns 21, the granddaughter (Helen Parrish) goes to the old family dwelling - which, despite being empty has a phone and lights. Before much can happen, she is found dead by electrocution, to be followed in death by someone else.
A detective (Dick Purcell) hired by an uncle in the family, as well as Lt. Burke (Tim Ryan) work to solve the murders, realizing that the family is being knocked off according to the original seating chart.
Frank Faylen plays policeman Speed Dugan, who generates much of the humor.
We never do find out anything about that 13th guest.
A Monogram film, need I say more.
Not good............
spencejoshua-2273620 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
.........not at all. This film feels like a comedy short, but lacks the zany characters that hold the interest of the viewer. The plot is well established with a great hook in the beginning..........but it quickly derails. I think the seriousness of electrocuting unsuspecting victims and placing their bodies in their original dinner table seating arrangement is brilliant. However, the humorous script and exchange between the detectives is more anoying than funny. The acting is bad, the script is lacking and the direction misses the target.
I regret wasting an hour of my time on this.......
I regret wasting an hour of my time on this.......
Oh dear
malgat29 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
I missed the opening titles of this movie and did not realize it was a Monogram picture.
The first few minutes showed great promise, but when the police arrived after the criminal commission, the movie collapsed into the giant abyss of failure.
The script has to be the worst ever, accompanied by equally bad acting.
The agony was excruciating.
Wanting to determine the identity of the 13th guest, I stuck it out for the duration, knowing it was only an hour long.
Alas, the mystery prevails.
But then, what more could be expected.
The first few minutes showed great promise, but when the police arrived after the criminal commission, the movie collapsed into the giant abyss of failure.
The script has to be the worst ever, accompanied by equally bad acting.
The agony was excruciating.
Wanting to determine the identity of the 13th guest, I stuck it out for the duration, knowing it was only an hour long.
Alas, the mystery prevails.
But then, what more could be expected.
Minor potential hamstrung by perplexingly shoddy writing
I_Ailurophile21 November 2021
This is an oddity. Despite the murder mystery central to the premise - it's not that 'The mystery of the 13th guest' is an outright comedy, but so much wordplay, wisecracks, and otherwise snappy dialogue fills the runtime that there's a bizarre, prevalent, overarching levity to the feature. The screenplay is rife with jocular cleverness - both too much, and not as much as it thinks. Yes, there's an active puzzling set of circumstances to untangle, but the movie seems far less concerned with heinousness than it is with humor. The feature presents just enough eventfulness to keep us watching, but only at the bare minimum. Case in point, even with two-thirds of the 1-hour runtime passed, there's weirdly been very little plot development. As the greatest substance of the narrative is condensed into the last ten minutes, it's hard not to feel like the entirety is direly thin, and this last stretch is terribly rushed.
The dialogue, scene writing, and overall narrative are questionable, and characters are unremarkable; some details are left very unclear, or not really addressed at all. With the writing so scattershot at best, the assembled cast are forced into performances that are merely perfunctory; it's impossible to discern from this title alone what skills the actors may possess. Similarly, I don't know that I can rightly assess William Beaudine's direction here - it serves it purpose; can he really be said to have done any more than that?
I'm a little flabbergasted. I didn't have any foreknowledge or particular expectations as I began watching, and still the film I sat for in no way resembled anything in my imagination - and not in a good way. Frankly, the writing strikes me as plainly specious, and whatever the quality of other aspects of the feature, they are overshadowed if not specifically dampened by shoddy work from the scribes. And, why, all the while it's clear that the thrust of the picture was no accident, as there eventually comes a telling line of dialogue: "A snappy joke injected here and there would make a world of difference." That's certainly not untrue. But the key phrase is "here and there." Make snappy jokes the most distinguishing element of your murder mystery, and you're asking for trouble.
I would hardly say that 'The mystery of the 13th guest' is downright terrible, but unfortunately, it's not far off. There are a lot of great films of every genre to watch, and from every era. What marginal value this one can claim is not nearly enough to make it worth even one hour of our day. My time would have been better spent doing almost anything else apart from watching this slog. Two thumbs down; not recommended.
The dialogue, scene writing, and overall narrative are questionable, and characters are unremarkable; some details are left very unclear, or not really addressed at all. With the writing so scattershot at best, the assembled cast are forced into performances that are merely perfunctory; it's impossible to discern from this title alone what skills the actors may possess. Similarly, I don't know that I can rightly assess William Beaudine's direction here - it serves it purpose; can he really be said to have done any more than that?
I'm a little flabbergasted. I didn't have any foreknowledge or particular expectations as I began watching, and still the film I sat for in no way resembled anything in my imagination - and not in a good way. Frankly, the writing strikes me as plainly specious, and whatever the quality of other aspects of the feature, they are overshadowed if not specifically dampened by shoddy work from the scribes. And, why, all the while it's clear that the thrust of the picture was no accident, as there eventually comes a telling line of dialogue: "A snappy joke injected here and there would make a world of difference." That's certainly not untrue. But the key phrase is "here and there." Make snappy jokes the most distinguishing element of your murder mystery, and you're asking for trouble.
I would hardly say that 'The mystery of the 13th guest' is downright terrible, but unfortunately, it's not far off. There are a lot of great films of every genre to watch, and from every era. What marginal value this one can claim is not nearly enough to make it worth even one hour of our day. My time would have been better spent doing almost anything else apart from watching this slog. Two thumbs down; not recommended.
A weird criminal comedy mixed with hilarious horror
clanciai10 December 2018
This is actually an ingenious plot almost reaching the level of Conan Doyle's worst mysteries of Sherlock Holmes, as there are things complicating the investigation all the time, with some left over question marks on the way which will bother you after the film is over.
An old man of a grand family is about to die and ordains that his will will not be opened until 13 years after his death and then only by his granddaughter, then a small girl of 8, when she gets 21. The house is closed up in the meantyime, and when she comes there to open the will 13 years later the murders start increasing as the relatives start coming. There are many comic instances constantly interrupting the investigation and any tension and suspense and some weird surprises as well. But it is terribly entertaining.
An old man of a grand family is about to die and ordains that his will will not be opened until 13 years after his death and then only by his granddaughter, then a small girl of 8, when she gets 21. The house is closed up in the meantyime, and when she comes there to open the will 13 years later the murders start increasing as the relatives start coming. There are many comic instances constantly interrupting the investigation and any tension and suspense and some weird surprises as well. But it is terribly entertaining.
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