99-es számú bérkocsi (transl. Rental Car Number 99) is a 1918 Hungarian crime drama film directed by Michael Curtiz.[2] The film is sometimes just referred to as 99.[3][2]
The film's plot is about a London police officer who visits a millionaires club to make a wager that he could commit a crime that the police will not discover for 30 days.[4]
Outside working at the Star Company, Bela Lugosi worked for the smaller company Phönix.[5] His second film for the company was 99-es számú bérkocsi (transl. Rental Car Number 99) Much of the cast had worked or would work with Lugosi, including Lajos Réthey who worked on stage with Lugosi in 1904 adaptation of Trilby and Gyula Gál who worked with Lugosi at the National Theatre in Budapest.[6] Mihály Várkonyi would work with Lugosi again in The Black Camel (1931).[6]
The film was directed by Michael Curtiz. A reel of the film was overexposed during the films final production, leading to Curtiz ordering Lugosi to do retakes. Lugosi reportedly refused and was excoriated in front of the entire company and did not return until Curtis agreed to apologize to Lugosi in front of the crew.[7]
99-es számú bérkocsi was previewed at the Royal-Apolló in Budapest on September 12, 1918 before being released on November 8, 1918.[2]
Film historian István Nemeskürty stated that both 99-es számú bérkocsi and Az ezredes ranked among Curtiz's most successful Hungarian films.[7] The film was apparently popular enough that Phönix proposed a follow-up titled 77 featuring the same London police officer. That film does not appear to have gone into production.[7]
Rhodes, Gary Don (2006) [1997]. Lugosi. His Life in Films, on Stage, and in the Hearts of Horror Lovers. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN978-0-78640257-1.
Rhodes, Gary D.; Kaffenberger, Bill (2020). Becoming Dracula: The Early Years of Bela Lugosi. Vol. 1 (Kindle ed.). BearManor Media.
