The Ninth Guest (1934)

The Ninth Guest (1934)

„The Ninth Guest“ is a 1934 pre-Code murder mystery horror film directed by Roy William Neill. The film is an adaptation of the 1930 Broadway play „The Ninth Guest“ by Owen Davis, which in turn is based on the 1930 novel „The Invisible Host“ by Bruce Manning and Gwen Bristow.

An anonymous caller invites a number of guests to a party, telling each one that the party is in his honor. The guests include Dr. Murray Reid, a university professor, Henry Abbott, a campus radical, Jason Osgood, the city’s mob boss, Sylvia Inglesby, an attorney, Tim Cronin, Sylvia’s district attorney, Margaret Chisholm, a society matron, Jim Daley, an author, and Jean Trent, Henry’s love interest.

When the guests begin to arrive, they find that each is an enemy of another guest. As they have been instructed by the host, the Butler, Hawkins, and his assistant turn on the radio and a voice announces that the guests have been gathered for a game of wit in which „Death“ will be the „ninth guest.“

Later, the guests discover a dead body in a closet, and at eleven o’clock, Osgood dies trying to poison the others. Then, Jean tells the others that Margaret received a letter revealing that she is a bigamist and had committed her husband to an asylum. Distraught at having been found out, Margaret kills herself at midnight.

Soon, the remaining guests are bickering among themselves, and when they find a gun on Timothy, Sylvia, attempting to defend him, kills him. Sylvia then commits suicide by throwing herself against the electric gate.

At two o’clock, the lights go out, and Dr. Reid is shot and Henry is wounded. As James ties Henry up, sure that he is the killer, he explains that the first body was that of the electrician who wired the apartment for Henry, and that the radio voice was activated by a button located on Henry’s chair. Finally, Henry admits his crimes and explains that Margaret’s husband was his brother, and that Sylvia was Margaret’s attorney and Timothy was a corrupt district attorney. Aware that his love for Jean is hopeless, Henry lets her and James leave, then electrocutes himself.

Cast:

• Donald Cook – Jim Daley
• Genevieve Tobin – Jean Trent
• Hardie Albright – Henry Abbott
• Edward Ellis – Tim Cronin
• Edwin Maxwell – Jason Osgood
• Vince Barnett – William Jones
• Helen Flint – Sylvia Inglesby
• Samuel S. Hinds – Dr. Murray Reid
• Nella Walker – Margaret Chisholm
• Sidney Bracey – Hawkins, the Butler
• Mildred Gover – Jean’s Maid
• Arthur Hoyt – Osgood’s Secretary
• Mary MacLaren – First Telegraph Office Worker
• Billie Seward – Office Worker
• Gayne Whitman – Voice of the host
• Charles C. Wilson – Burke

„The Ninth Guest“ ist ein Pre-Code-Krimi-Horrorfilm aus dem Jahr 1934 unter der Regie von Roy William Neill. Der Film ist eine Adaption des Broadway-Stücks „The Ninth Guest“ von Owen Davis aus dem Jahr 1930, das wiederum auf dem Roman „The Invisible Host“ von Bruce Manning und Gwen Bristow aus dem Jahr 1930 basiert.

Ein anonymer Anrufer lädt eine Reihe von Gästen zu einer Party ein und teilt ihnen mit, dass die Party ihnen zu Ehren stattfindet. Zu den Gästen gehören Dr. Murray Reid, ein Universitätsprofessor, Henry Abbott, ein Radikaler vom Campus, Jason Osgood, der Mafiaboss der Stadt, Sylvia Inglesby, eine Anwältin, Tim Cronin, Sylvias Bezirksstaatsanwalt, Margaret Chisholm, eine Matrone der Gesellschaft, Jim Daley, ein Autor, und Jean Trent, Henrys Geliebte.

Als die Gäste eintreffen, stellen sie fest, dass jeder ein Feind eines anderen Gastes ist. Wie vom Gastgeber angewiesen, schalten der Butler, Hawkins und sein Assistent das Radio ein, und eine Stimme verkündet, dass die Gäste zu einem Witzspiel versammelt sind, bei dem der „Tod“ der „neunte Gast“ sein wird.