Mr. Reeder in Room 13

Mr. Reeder in Room 13 is a 1938 British crime film directed by Norman Lee and starring Peter Murray-Hill, Sally Gray and Gibb McLaughlin. It is based on the first J. G. Reeder book, Room 13 by Edgar Wallace. The film was released in the U.S. in 1941 as Mystery of Room 13.

Plot

Mr. J. G. Reeder is called in by the Bank of England to investigate a gang of forgers. Reeder enlists the aid of a younger man, Captain Johnnie Gray, to infiltrate the gang by going undercover in Dartmoor jail.

Cast

Peter Murray-Hill as Captain Johnnie Gray
Sally Gray as Claire Kane
Gibb McLaughlin as J.G. Reeder
Malcolm Keen as Peter Kane
Leslie Perrins as Jeffrey Legge
Sara Seegar as Lila Legge
D.J. Williams as Emmanuel Legge
Rex Carvel as Sir John Flaherty
Robert Cochran as Detective Inspector Barker
Phil Ray as Fenner, convict

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The plot has vigour but it is clumsy, slovenly and frankly impossible. ... But the film has many merits; it moves quickly, in general is very well acted, has really humorous interludes, and good clear sound and photography."

Kine Weekly wrote: "The acting is in the main good, and powerful suspense accompanies the climax, but the story is far from easy to follow. There is, however plenty of active and exciting surface interest to keep the masses on tenterhooks."

Picturegoer wrote: "The plot is very involved in this adaptation of an Edgar Wallace thriller and militates against the picture's entertainment. ... Sally Gray is adequate as the heroine and Gibb McLaughlin is good in the title role, but the rest of the cast is hindered by the story development."

Britmovie wrote, "Director Norman Lee keeps things moving along briskly and packs plenty of goings-on into its relatively short running time, but the outlandish plot requires some suspension of disbelief."