bkoganbing Grandfather Lloyd Ingraham invites his family for dinner, but this is one greedy family. Twelve show up with a place set for a 13th guest that never arrives. At that party Ingraham tells all of them what a greedy, grasping group they are and announces that his fortune is going to his granddaughter who is 8 at the time on her 21st birthday. He gives a letter to his lawyer to be opened on her 21st birthday.With the arrival of the granddaughter 13 years later played by Helen Parrish bodies of the guests start dropping. One of them hires private detective Dick Purcell to find out about the deaths and the mysterious as yet unopened letter.This is a remake of an early Monogram feature that had a slightly better cast to it with the heiress played by Ginger Rogers. I'll be checking that one out soon as it is available for viewing.Hopefully it is not characterized by the sloppiness of Mystery Of The 13th Guest. Bad editing, bad writing, and perfunctory performances. A typical Monogram feature.

JohnHowardReid Despite some unfortunate comedy relief which tends to shatter the atmospheric mood so carefully built up by photographer, Mack Stengler – fully half the film is photographed in eerie darkness – this one emerges as a moderately exciting mystery thriller. Not the least of its intriguing aspects is how the star of the picture, who is killed in the first five minutes, is going to be revived. The situation itself is compelling, the plot devices offbeat and William Beaudine's direction – including an ingenious 350 degree pan – a considerable cut above his usual take-it-or-lump-it average. The cast is capable – in fact, Helen Parrish makes a really attractive heroine – and by Monogram's stingy standards, production values are quite fair.

Michael O'Keefe A little moody with an atmosphere accentuated with shadows. This mystery is based on a novel by Armitage Trail and directed by William Beaudine. This mystery from Monogram is definitely a cut above the typical B-movie of the early 40's. Family and friends wait for 13 years to hear a will to be read. Where there is the thought of money; murder is one solution of getting greed out of the way and getting one step closer to a possible fortune. A wisecracking Dick Purcell is aided by bumbling Frank Faylen in the investigation of dirty deeds going on. Helen Parrish actually carries the movie reprising the role played by Ginger Rogers in 1932. Thirteen guests in a dimly lighted mansion and plenty of suspense. Other players include: John Duncan, Cyril Ring, Addison Richards, Tim Ryan and Jacqueline Dalya.

Norm-30 I've met several people who feel that this version is much better than the original (Ginger Rogers / Lyle Talbot) picture. I disagree.All the "spookiness" from the original (including the black-robed 'phantom') is gone, and the film is "just another mystery".But, to each his own!Norm