This is a neat B thriller which rises above its Z grade studio. Even for a remake, this complex thriller remains fresh and entertaining today. There is something to be said for one-shot only director William Beaudine's method in many of his films and here, the actors all meet the challenge. The pace is quick, the dialog crisp and the low-budget pretty much hidden thanks to professional technical work. Yes, it lacks the polish of the major studios as well as a well-known cast, but what it lacks on that front, it makes up for in fun.
The original film ("The Thirteenth Guest") starred a young Ginger Rogers in the dual role of a young heiress and an impostor. This version puts Helen Parrish in those parts as she recalls a dinner party from 13 years before where her Grandfather Morgan made an announcement regarding the future of his estate before dying. The Morgans are indeed a greedy bunch, and before the night is over, a few of them will be joining their grandfather in the family crypt.
The plot certainly was not an original one but twists and turns in the plot, a great deal of humor and the quick pace makes this even better than the original. Adapter Tim Ryan also plays the detective and is also remembered as the husband and vaudeville partner of Irene Ryan, T.V.'s Granny.
The original film ("The Thirteenth Guest") starred a young Ginger Rogers in the dual role of a young heiress and an impostor. This version puts Helen Parrish in those parts as she recalls a dinner party from 13 years before where her Grandfather Morgan made an announcement regarding the future of his estate before dying. The Morgans are indeed a greedy bunch, and before the night is over, a few of them will be joining their grandfather in the family crypt.
The plot certainly was not an original one but twists and turns in the plot, a great deal of humor and the quick pace makes this even better than the original. Adapter Tim Ryan also plays the detective and is also remembered as the husband and vaudeville partner of Irene Ryan, T.V.'s Granny.