Thirteen Women
Encyclopedia
Thirteen Women is a psychological thriller
film, produced by David O. Selznick
and directed by George Archainbaud
. It starred Myrna Loy
, Irene Dunne
, Ricardo Cortez
, Florence Eldridge
and Jill Esmond
. Several characters were deleted, including those played by Leon Ames
and Betty Furness
(in her film debut at the age of sixteen).
It is most widely noted as the only film role of Peg Entwistle
, who gained notoriety after her body was found below the Hollywood sign
weeks before the film's release (police surmised suicide). The film premiered in October at the Roxy Theater in New York City, then released in Los Angeles and a few other cities in November. A limited national release came in 1933.
Originally running seventy-three minutes, the studio later edited fourteen minutes out of the picture following poor reviews and box office receipts. The film was re-released in 1935 (post-Code) by RKO, hoping to turn a profit by cashing in on the growing popularity of stars Dunne and Loy. Thirteen Women has been cited as an early "female ensemble" film.
) who by mail sends each a horoscope
foreseeing swift doom. However, the clairvoyant is under the sway of Ursula Georgi (Myrna Loy
), a half-Javanese Eurasian woman who when a student at the college was snubbed by the other women owing to her mixed-race heritage
. Georgi seeks revenge by tricking the women into killing themselves or each other. She also goads the clairvoyant into killing himself by falling into the path of a subway train.
The victims are set up and killed off one by one until only Laura Stanhope (Irene Dunne
), living in Beverly Hills, is still alive. With the help of Laura's chauffeur Ursula tries to kill Laura's young son with both tainted candy and an explosive rubber ball, but is thwarted. A police detective catches her trying to murder Laura on a train. Ursula flees to the back of the train and jumps off to her own death.
in the film is married, kills her husband and goes to prison. In the book, Hazel is a lesbian who is seduced by (in Thayer's words) a "dyke" married to a lung doctor. Hazel has tuberculosis
and starves herself to death in a sanitarium while suffering the heartache of having been abandoned by her lover Martha. In both the book and movie, May and June Raskob (played by Harriet Hagman and Mary Duncan
) are twin sisters who work in a circus, but in book they are overweight side show attractions, rather than photogenic trapeze artists as in the film.
Psychological thriller
Psychological thriller is a specific sub-genre of the broad ranged thriller with heavy focus on characters. However, it often incorporates elements from the mystery and drama genre, along with the typical traits of the thriller genre...
film, produced by David O. Selznick
David O. Selznick
David O. Selznick was an American film producer. He is best known for having produced Gone with the Wind and Rebecca , both of which earned him an Oscar for Best Picture.-Early years:...
and directed by George Archainbaud
George Archainbaud
George Archainbaud was a French-born American film and television director.-Biography:In the beginning of his career he worked on stage as an actor and manager. He came to Hollywood in 1915, and started his film career as an assistant director to Emile Chautard. In 1917 he made his directorial...
. It starred Myrna Loy
Myrna Loy
Myrna Loy was an American actress. Trained as a dancer, she devoted herself fully to an acting career following a few minor roles in silent films. Originally typecast in exotic roles, often as a vamp or a woman of Asian descent, her career prospects improved following her portrayal of Nora Charles...
, Irene Dunne
Irene Dunne
Irene Dunne was an American film actress and singer of the 1930s, 1940s and early 1950s. Dunne was nominated five times for the Academy Award for Best Actress, for her performances in Cimarron , Theodora Goes Wild , The Awful Truth , Love Affair and I Remember Mama...
, Ricardo Cortez
Ricardo Cortez
Jacob Krantz , known by his stage name Ricardo Cortez, was an American film actor who began his career during the silent era.-Life and career:...
, Florence Eldridge
Florence Eldridge
Florence Eldridge was an American actress.-Personal life:...
and Jill Esmond
Jill Esmond
Jill Esmond was an English actress and first wife of Sir Laurence Olivier.-Early life:Esmond was born Jill Esmond Moore in London, the daughter of stage actors Henry V. Esmond and Eva Moore. While her parents toured with theatre companies, Esmond spent her childhood in boarding schools until she...
. Several characters were deleted, including those played by Leon Ames
Leon Ames (actor)
Leon Ames was an American film and television actor. He is best remembered for playing fatherly figures in such films as Meet Me in St. Louis , as Judy Garland's father, and in Little Women ....
and Betty Furness
Betty Furness
Elizabeth Mary Furness was an American actress, consumer advocate and current affairs commentator.-Early years:...
(in her film debut at the age of sixteen).
It is most widely noted as the only film role of Peg Entwistle
Peg Entwistle
Peg Entwistle was an English stage and screen actress who gained notoriety after her suicide at the age of 24 by leaping off of the Hollywood Sign.-Early life:...
, who gained notoriety after her body was found below the Hollywood sign
Hollywood Sign
The Hollywood Sign is a landmark and American cultural icon in the Hollywood Hills area of Mount Lee, Santa Monica Mountains, in Los Angeles, California. The sign spells out the name of the area in and white letters. It was created as an advertisement in 1923, but garnered increasing recognition...
weeks before the film's release (police surmised suicide). The film premiered in October at the Roxy Theater in New York City, then released in Los Angeles and a few other cities in November. A limited national release came in 1933.
Originally running seventy-three minutes, the studio later edited fourteen minutes out of the picture following poor reviews and box office receipts. The film was re-released in 1935 (post-Code) by RKO, hoping to turn a profit by cashing in on the growing popularity of stars Dunne and Loy. Thirteen Women has been cited as an early "female ensemble" film.
Plot summary
Thirteen women, friends who were members of a girl's college sorority, all write to a clairvoyant "swami" (C. Henry GordonC. Henry Gordon
C. Henry Gordon was an American film actor. He appeared in 79 films between 1930 and 1940. He was a Hollywood villain of the 1930s....
) who by mail sends each a horoscope
Horoscope
In astrology, a horoscope is a chart or diagram representing the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, the astrological aspects, and sensitive angles at the time of an event, such as the moment of a person's birth. The word horoscope is derived from Greek words meaning "a look at the hours" In...
foreseeing swift doom. However, the clairvoyant is under the sway of Ursula Georgi (Myrna Loy
Myrna Loy
Myrna Loy was an American actress. Trained as a dancer, she devoted herself fully to an acting career following a few minor roles in silent films. Originally typecast in exotic roles, often as a vamp or a woman of Asian descent, her career prospects improved following her portrayal of Nora Charles...
), a half-Javanese Eurasian woman who when a student at the college was snubbed by the other women owing to her mixed-race heritage
Multiracial
The terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from multiple races. Unlike the term biracial, which often is only used to refer to having parents or grandparents of two different races, the term multiracial may encompass biracial people but can also include people with...
. Georgi seeks revenge by tricking the women into killing themselves or each other. She also goads the clairvoyant into killing himself by falling into the path of a subway train.
The victims are set up and killed off one by one until only Laura Stanhope (Irene Dunne
Irene Dunne
Irene Dunne was an American film actress and singer of the 1930s, 1940s and early 1950s. Dunne was nominated five times for the Academy Award for Best Actress, for her performances in Cimarron , Theodora Goes Wild , The Awful Truth , Love Affair and I Remember Mama...
), living in Beverly Hills, is still alive. With the help of Laura's chauffeur Ursula tries to kill Laura's young son with both tainted candy and an explosive rubber ball, but is thwarted. A police detective catches her trying to murder Laura on a train. Ursula flees to the back of the train and jumps off to her own death.
Adaptation from book
The character Hazel Cousins as played by Peg EntwistlePeg Entwistle
Peg Entwistle was an English stage and screen actress who gained notoriety after her suicide at the age of 24 by leaping off of the Hollywood Sign.-Early life:...
in the film is married, kills her husband and goes to prison. In the book, Hazel is a lesbian who is seduced by (in Thayer's words) a "dyke" married to a lung doctor. Hazel has tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
and starves herself to death in a sanitarium while suffering the heartache of having been abandoned by her lover Martha. In both the book and movie, May and June Raskob (played by Harriet Hagman and Mary Duncan
Mary Duncan
Mary Duncan was an American actress.She began her career as a child actress playing on the Broadway stage from 1910. In 1926 she played the daughter "Poppy" in the smash hit and controversial play The Shanghai Gesture. Florence Reed played her mother called Mother Goddam in which Reed kills Duncan...
) are twin sisters who work in a circus, but in book they are overweight side show attractions, rather than photogenic trapeze artists as in the film.
Cast
- Irene DunneIrene DunneIrene Dunne was an American film actress and singer of the 1930s, 1940s and early 1950s. Dunne was nominated five times for the Academy Award for Best Actress, for her performances in Cimarron , Theodora Goes Wild , The Awful Truth , Love Affair and I Remember Mama...
as Laura Stanhope - Ricardo CortezRicardo CortezJacob Krantz , known by his stage name Ricardo Cortez, was an American film actor who began his career during the silent era.-Life and career:...
as Police Sergeant Barry Clive - Jill EsmondJill EsmondJill Esmond was an English actress and first wife of Sir Laurence Olivier.-Early life:Esmond was born Jill Esmond Moore in London, the daughter of stage actors Henry V. Esmond and Eva Moore. While her parents toured with theatre companies, Esmond spent her childhood in boarding schools until she...
as Jo Turner - Myrna LoyMyrna LoyMyrna Loy was an American actress. Trained as a dancer, she devoted herself fully to an acting career following a few minor roles in silent films. Originally typecast in exotic roles, often as a vamp or a woman of Asian descent, her career prospects improved following her portrayal of Nora Charles...
as Ursula Georgi - Mary DuncanMary DuncanMary Duncan was an American actress.She began her career as a child actress playing on the Broadway stage from 1910. In 1926 she played the daughter "Poppy" in the smash hit and controversial play The Shanghai Gesture. Florence Reed played her mother called Mother Goddam in which Reed kills Duncan...
as June Raskob - Kay JohnsonKay JohnsonKay Johnson was an American actress who performed on the stage and in Hollywood films.-Family:Catherine Townsend Johnson was born in Mount Vernon, New York in 1904. Her father was architect Thomas R. Johnson who designed several noteworthy buildings in the New York City...
as Helen Dawson Frye - Florence EldridgeFlorence EldridgeFlorence Eldridge was an American actress.-Personal life:...
as Grace Coombs - C. Henry GordonC. Henry GordonC. Henry Gordon was an American film actor. He appeared in 79 films between 1930 and 1940. He was a Hollywood villain of the 1930s....
as Swami Yogadachi - Peg EntwistlePeg EntwistlePeg Entwistle was an English stage and screen actress who gained notoriety after her suicide at the age of 24 by leaping off of the Hollywood Sign.-Early life:...
as Hazel Clay Cousins - Harriet Hagman as May Raskob
- Edward PawleyEdward PawleyEdward Joel Pawley was an American actor of radio, films and Broadway. The full name on his birth certificate is Edward Joel Stone Pawley, however, he never used the Stone name. It derived from a Stone family in Illinois.At maturity, Pawley was 5'-10" tall with thick black hair and blue eyes...
as Burns, Laura's chauffeur - Blanche Federici as Miss Kirsten, headmistress
- Wally AlbrightWally AlbrightWally Albright was an American former child actor.-Career:Albright was born Walton Algernon Albright, Jr. in Burbank, California. He appeared in a number of films during his career, and is notable for appearing in six Our Gang short subjects throughout the early 1930s...
as young Robert Stanhope (Bobby)