ST. JAMES THEATRE.

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 61, 9 September 1937, Page 15

ST. JAMES THEATRE.

"The Thirteenth Chair,"

Twelve people in a room assembled about a table—the thirteenth is a medium conducting a seance. One of the twelve hopes to solve the murder of his friend by psychic methods. In the darkness —and the silence—a muffled groan. The lights flash ou and the man is dead—stabbed with a blade —but there is no knife.... No human has entered or left the room. Who of the thirteen is the murderer? That will be the intriguing mystery at the St. James Theatre-tomorrow when the screen .adaptation of, Bayard Veiller's famous stage.., play; ;■ "The Thirteenth Chair," : will be by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The story was a sensation on the Broadway stage. With the greater facilities of the studios it becomes more mysterious—more dramatic than ever. The picture required a new technique in Hollywood, for much of it was filmed in deep gloom. The sound men had to manoeuvre their microphones over each player as the vital lines were spoken, when it was impossible at times to see their faces. The players include Dame May Whitty, the famous English stage star who recently scored an outstanding triumph with Robert Montgomery In "Nignt Must Fall," Madge Evans, attractive heroine of numerous pictures, the vete« ran character actor, Lewis Stone, Blissa Landi in her first appearance since "After the Thin Man,1' Thomas Beck, who recently scored In "Seventh Heaven," Henry Daniell, who won acclaim for. his performance with Garbo in. "Camille," Janet. Beecber, Rafph Forbes, and eight other featured supporting1 players.