The Unknown Guest (1943 film)

The Unknown Guest
Directed byKurt Neumann
Written byPhilip Yordan
Produced byCharles King
Maurice King
StarringVictor Jory
Pamela Blake
Veda Ann Borg
CinematographyJackson Rose
Edited byMartin G. Cohn
Music byDimitri Tiomkin
Production
company
Distributed byMonogram Pictures
Release date
  • October 22, 1943 (1943-10-22)
Running time
61 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Unknown Guest is a 1943 American mystery film released by King Brothers Productions. It was written by Philip Yordan, directed by Kurt Neumann and stars Victor Jory, Pamela Blake and Veda Ann Borg.

Plot

Cast

Production

Philip Yordan had written a script for brothers Charles and Maurice King titled Dillinger, but the Kings suggested that Yordan write something less expensive to produce.[1] Yordan took a course in budgeting from production manager George Moskov. Yordan later recalled:

Moskov’s advice was to avoid a gangster film. Action and gunfire was costly. He suggested a suspense melodrama with one set. I dreamed up an imitation Hitchcock idea, all taking place in a roadhouse closed for the winter. Frank King liked the script, especially the low cost with very few extras. He couldn’t pay more than the minimum and had to cajole and flatter the actors to get them. The brothers managed to get Victor Jory and Pamela Drake for almost nothing.[2]

Reception

The film was the first from Monogram to screen at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b McGilligan, Patrick. Backstory 2: Interviews with Screenwriters of the 1940s and 1950s. Berkeley: University of California Press, c1991.
  2. ^ Rode, Alan K. (November 2009). "The Philip Yordan Story" (PDF).