fraud

The Thirteenth Chair (1929) starring Bela Lugosi, directed by Tod Browning

To enjoy  The Thirteenth Chair, the audience has to bear in mind that this is a  very early sound picture, and make appropriate allowances. If you do that, you can enjoy the murder mystery.  And especially the sight of Bela Lugosi as the police Inspector Delzante.  He berates and threatens the witnesses to a murder. Thirteen witnesses, at a seance, sitting in thirteen chairs — hence the title. It should be mentioned that  The Thirteenth Chair is directed by Tod Browning (Dracula, Freaks). He brought Lugosi to worldwide fame only 2 years after this movie.