“THE 13TH CHAIR”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 966, 8 May 1930, Page 15

“THE 13TH CHAIR”

SUPREME TALKIE THRILLER ROXY’S FINE PICTURE Strange mysteries in a ghostly room; Voices from the great beyond, the exposing of mediumistic tricks and the dramatic solution of a baffling murder mystery are the elements in "The 13th Chair," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s alltalking lilmisation of the stage play, now being shown at the Roxy Theatre. Margaret Wycherly, who created the role of Rosalie La Grange, the medium, in the original stage offering, plays the role which she had in the stage play and has a battle of wits with the police for the life of her daughter. Ted Browning, purveyor of many Lon Chaney film mysteries, directed the new play, and equals his former achievements in the uncanny. Conrad Nagel and Leila Hyamsplay the romantic leads in the new play, working out a romance amid the mystery, and Bela Lugosi plays the uncanny inspector, Delzante, who solves tho queer mystery with the aid of the spirit medium. Interesting roles in the seance scene are filled by Helene Millard, Holmes Herbert, Moon Carroll. Mary Forbes, Charles Quartermaine, Gretehen Holland, Clarence Geldert, Frank Leigh, John Davidson and Bertram Johns, the latter playing the principal comedy relief role.

The action of the play is laid in the British governor’s home in Calcutta, and tho weird mystery of India, together with strange lighting effects such as the moonbeam shining on the murderer’s knife thrown into the ceiling, are among interesting technical details in the story. A full programme of shorter talkie featurettes completes the Roxy's fine entertainment.

"The Benson Murder Case." a new Paramount all-talking mystery play, starring William Powell, has been completed at the Hollywood studios. The screen play is adapted from the last oi' 3. S. van Dine’s |amou& stories.