The Thirteenth Chair (1929): cast, story & where to watch
1929 · Film · ★ 4.8
Released in 1929, The Thirteenth Chair is a drama and mystery film directed by Tod Browning, running about 72 minutes. “Who Killed Spencer Lee?” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Although his murdered friend was by all accounts a scoundrel, Edward Wales is determined to trap his killer by staging a seance using a famous medium. Many of the 13 seance participants had a reason and a means to kill, and one of them uses the cover of darkness to kill again. When someone close to the medium is suspected she turns detective, in the hope of uncovering the true murderer.
Who’s in it. The Thirteenth Chair stars Conrad Nagel as Richard Crosby, Leila Hyams as Helen 'Nellie' O'Neill, Margaret Wycherly as Madame Rosalie La Grange and Helene Millard as Mary Eastwood, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 4.8/10, The Thirteenth Chair has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Thirteenth Chair page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Thirteenth Chair tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Thirteenth Chair (1929)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Thirteenth Chair change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is The Thirteenth Chair worth watching?
- The Thirteenth Chair holds an audience score of 4.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and mystery. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Thirteenth Chair?
- The Thirteenth Chair stars Conrad Nagel, Leila Hyams, Margaret Wycherly, Helene Millard and Holmes Herbert.
- When was The Thirteenth Chair released?
- The Thirteenth Chair was released in 1929, with a runtime of about 72 minutes.