(movie still courtesy of John Soister)
(US release 31 Aug 1919) Distributed by Pathe Exchange
(released in France in 23 aut 1918 as La Treizieme Chaise )
Cinematography: Alfred Ortlieb
Screenplay: Leonce Perret, based on the play of the same name by Baiyard Veiller
Cast (in credits order) Character
Yvonne Delva Helen O'Neil
Creighton Hale Willy Grosby
Marie Shotwell Madame LaGrange
Christine May Mrs. Philip Mason
Suzanne Colbert Helen Trent
Georges Deneubourg Edward Wales
Marc McDermott Stephen Lee
Walter Law Inspector Donohue
Fraunie French Fraunhotz ---
Alice Calhoun (uncredited)
Trivia:
Some scenes in this film were shot at Sarancac Lake in New York.
The original Broadway production of "The Thirteenth Chair" opened in NYC on 20 November 1916, and ran for 328 performances at the 48th Street Theater. The original cast included Margaret Wycherly (playwright Veiller's wife) and Walter Young, who reprised their roles in a 1929 version of the film, which starred Bela Lugosi. Another film version was released in 1937, and a television episode of the play aired on The Climax Mystery Theater in 1954.
Director Leonce Perret was born in 1880 in Niort, Deux-Sevres, Poitou-Charentes, France and died there in 1935. He was married to Valentine Petit, a French silent film actress. The prolific Perret acted in almost 100 silent films, and directed 300.
Creighton Hale went on to play bit parts in sound films (incl. Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon) and in television, most notably in the "Our Gang" serials as the older brother to Miss Crabtree (June Marlowe). He was born in 1882 in County Cork, Ireland and died in 1965 in Pasedena, CA.
Marc MacDermott is today best remembered as Greta Garbo's cuckolded husband in The Flesh and the Devil. He was a powerful and versatile film presence - in the episodic While New York Sleeps (1920), he played three major roles. He would have likely done well in sound films, but unfortunately, he died suddenly during a gall bladder operation.
Georges Deneuborg was a French film actor who was featured in 29 films.
Walter Law performed on the stage for 37 years before joining the motion picture industry, where he was featured in 48 films
A native of Alberta, Canada, Fraunie French Fraunhotz was featured in 26 silent films. The Thirteenth Chair was his final performance.
Marie Shortwell was in 28 films in her career.
This 1919 film version signifies the one and only film performances for Yvonne Delva, and Suzanne Colbert. Alice Calhoun gave an uncredited performance in this film, one of her first film apppearances.
