The Thirteenth Guest (1932)

The Thirteenth Guest (1932)  is the film version of an Armitage Trail story.  Monogram Pictures released the early “B” film (affiliate link) starring Ginger Rogers and Lyle Talbot.  Ginger Rogers was only 21 at the time but would go on to great stardom as Fred Astaire’s most regular dance partner.

Lyle Talbot made a living through most of the late 1930s and 1940s playing villains and cads. Talbot takes a rare turn as the hero, Private Detective Phil Winston, in this film.  Winston is called onto the case by his uncle, Captain Ryan of the Homicide Squad.

The plot revolves around the reading of a will thirteen years after the death of the wealthy man.  He died or was murdered after a dinner party for thirteen guests.  Winston is called into the case after the dead man’s daughter is found dead in the house from a fatal does of electricity.

Adding to the mystery is someone has established phone service and turned the power back on in the house, which was shut up since the wealthy man’s untimely death.  Winston correctly surmises the dinner party and house both present significant clues to solving the mystery.

The entertaining film runs about 68 minutes.  You can often find the film on-line in places like YouTube.   Netflix also has a version on-line named The Mystery of the 13th Guest (1943) (affiliate link).  Dick Purcell plays Johnny Smith, the Phil Winston character, in the later film.

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