The Thirteenth Chair
Synopsis
Mrs. Philip Mason commits suicide after she has an affair with Stephen Lee, a disreputable stockbroker, and sells her husband's securities so that Lee can buy stocks. When Lee goes bankrupt, he blackmails Helen Trent by threatening to reveal silly love letters she wrote to him before she married. Her brother, Willy Grosby, and his fiancée, Helen O'Neil, who lives with the Grosbys, go to retrieve the letters. While Willy waits outside, Lee is knifed to death as he attacks Helen. Lee's friend, Edward Wales, attempts to pin the murder on Helen by having Madame LaFarge, a clairvoyant, conduct a séance. In the darkened room, Wales, through whom Lee's spirit supposedly speaks, is about to name Helen as the murderer, but Wales, who sits in the thirteenth chair, is himself murdered. After Helen confesses to Inspector Donohue that Madame LaFarge is her mother, LaFarge, while conducting another séance, tricks Philip Mason into confessing to the murders.
Top Cast
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Release History & Theatrical Window
August 23, 1919
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Léonce Perret
- Screenplay & Story
- Léonce Perret, Bayard Veiller
- Original Title
- The Thirteenth Chair
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- No Language
- Runtime
- 1h 0m
- Production Studios
- Acme Pictures Corporation
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Léonce Perret
Léonce Perret, Bayard Veiller
Department Leadership Roster
Léonce Perret
Writer
Léonce Perret
Director
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Thirteenth Chair.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Thirteenth Chair
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Thirteenth Chair about?
Mrs. Philip Mason commits suicide after she has an affair with Stephen Lee, a disreputable stockbroker, and sells her husband's securities so that Lee can buy stocks. When Lee goes bankrupt, he blackmails Helen Trent by threatening to reveal silly love letters she wrote to him before she married. Her brother, Willy Grosby, and his fiancée, Helen O'Neil, who lives with the Grosbys, go to retrieve the letters. While Willy waits outside, Lee is knifed to death as he attacks Helen. Lee's friend, Edward Wales, attempts to pin the murder on Helen by having Madame LaFarge, a clairvoyant, conduct a séance. In the darkened room, Wales, through whom Lee's spirit supposedly speaks, is about to name Helen as the murderer, but Wales, who sits in the thirteenth chair, is himself murdered. After Helen confesses to Inspector Donohue that Madame LaFarge is her mother, LaFarge, while conducting another séance, tricks Philip Mason into confessing to the murders.
Who directed The Thirteenth Chair?
The Thirteenth Chair was directed by Léonce Perret.
Who stars in The Thirteenth Chair?
The principal cast of The Thirteenth Chair includes Creighton Hale, Marie Shotwell, Marc McDermott, Yvonne Delva, Georges Deneubourg.
When was The Thirteenth Chair released and how long is it?
The Thirteenth Chair was released in 1919 with a total runtime of 1h 0m.