The Hour of 13

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The Hour of 13
The Hour of 13 - poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Harold French
Screenplay by Leon Gordon
Howard Emmett Rogers
Based onX v. Rex
1933 novel
by Philip MacDonald
Produced byHayes Goetz
Starring Peter Lawford
Dawn Addams
Roland Culver
Cinematography Guy Green
Edited by Raymond Poulton
Robert Watts
Music by John Addison
Production
company
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • 27 October 1952 (1952-10-27)
Running time
88 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
Language English
Budget$873,000 [1]
Box office$756,000 [1]

The Hour of 13 is a 1952 British historical mystery film directed by Harold French and starring Peter Lawford, Dawn Addams and Roland Culver. [2] It was written by Leon Gordon and Howard Emmett Rogers.

Contents

The film is a remake of the 1934 thriller The Mystery of Mr. X , based on the novel X v. Rex by Philip MacDonald. [3]

Plot

In Edwardian London a mysterious killer known as The Terror is on a murdering spree, having already killed ten policemen. Gentleman thief Nicholas Revel gets involved and helps the police bring the murderer to justice.

Cast

Production

The film was made at Elstree Studios by the British subsidiary of MGM. The film's sets were designed by the German-born art director Alfred Junge. Some location shooting took place around London including Kensington Gardens.

Reception

Box office

According to MGM records the movie earned $344,000 in the US and Canada and $412,000 elsewhere, making a loss to the studio of $424,000. [1]

Critical

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This is a rather feeble kind of Raffles thriller, with Peter Lawford turning on a tired, aristocratic charm which is, one imagines, largely designed for American audiences. Though the climax is unusually savage, the thriller ingredients of this rambling story are thin and the period reconstruction half-hearted." [4]

Kine Weekly wrote: "The picture goes with an easy swing and Peter Lawford, an ideal choice for tae role of light-fingered ladies' man, Revel, sees that mayhem and murder are never taken too seriously. Dawn Addams is a delightful Jane, and Roland Culver and Leslie Dwyer have their moments as Connor and Ernie respectively. Tho staging is adroit, and menacing mist-laden exteriors and ornate interiors cunningly frame its light and sombre situations. At once, polished period comedy of manners and eerie thriller, it makes a refreshing change from high-pressure American crime fare." [5]

Variety wrote: "French's direction, the scripting and the trouping of the cast keep the plot unfolding at an entertaining pace. Miss Addams is an attractive romantic foil, and Bond answers the stuffed-shirt demands of his role. Dwyer's cabbie is excellent. Culver, Gordon, Michael Hordern, Jack McNaughton and other British players making up most of the cast all do their part to make this good, light entertaiment." [6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
  2. ↑ "The Hour of 13". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "The Hour of 13 (1952) - Harold French | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
  4. ↑ "The Hour of 13". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 19 (216): 172. 1 January 1952. ProQuest   1305817957.
  5. ↑ "The Hour of 13". Kine Weekly . 428 (2367): 18. 6 November 1952. ProQuest   2826274316.
  6. ↑ "The Hour of 13". Variety . 188 (4): 6. 1 October 1952. ProQuest   963140456.
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