The Director's Cut
Hollywood, 1962. At the glittering premiere of 'The Gilded Cage' at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, notorious studio mogul Reginald Bartholomew Fontaine III is found face-down in the lobby fountain. Eight suspects — from a fading starlet to an avant-garde screenwriter — must untangle a web of blackmail, sabotaged careers, and stolen scripts before the curtain falls on them all.
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- Print & play at home
- Full English edition
- 8 players · 2–3 h
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Characters
V
Veronica Vance
A glamorous blonde bombshell whose career is on the rocks, desperately seeking a comeback role.
Style
Glamorous Hollywood siren in a fading gown, seeking her spotlight.
T
Tamara "Tammy" Thompson
A flamboyant costume designer with a flair for the dramatic and a legendary temper.
Style
A flamboyant costume designer with a flair for drama and a legendary temper.
B
Barnaby "Barney" Bates
The charismatic leading man of 'The Gilded Cage,' a heartthrob juggling multiple secrets.
Style
The charismatic leading man, smooth on the outside, with secrets beneath.
E
Eleanor "Ellie" Emerson
The wide-eyed ingenue of 'The Gilded Cage,' a newcomer to Hollywood with hidden depths.
Style
The wide-eyed ingenue, sweet and new to the Hollywood scene.
C
Chester "Chuck" Sterling
The temperamental director of 'The Gilded Cage,' known for his artistic vision and explosive outbursts.
Style
The temperamental director, obsessed with his vision and volatile.
S
Silas "Si" Sullivan
The stoic cinematographer, a quiet observer who misses nothing behind the lens.
Style
The quiet cinematographer, observant and simmering with hidden resentment.
P
Penelope "Penny" Piper
A sharp-tongued gossip columnist, always hunting for the next big scoop.
Style
The sharp-tongued gossip columnist hunting for the next big scoop.
X
Xavier "X" Xylos
The mysterious, avant-garde screenwriter whose unconventional methods keep everyone guessing.
Style
The mysterious screenwriter, speaking in riddles with avant-garde ideas.
What You Get
A solvable mystery
A complete storyline with fair clues, a believable killer, and a satisfying reveal.
Character dossiers
Individual character dossier for each player — with backstory, secrets, motives, and goals.
Dress guide
Spoiler-safe costume guide per character — so every guest arrives in character without giving anything away.
Host guide
Complete host guide with the full solution, round structure, and pacing tips.
Audio narration
Atmospheric audio narration — introduction, every round, and a dramatic conclusion.
Print-ready PDFs
Printable PDFs — download, print, and hand out to your guests.
Is This Your Kind of Mystery?
Best for
you want a fuller 6 to 8 person table with lots of cross-talk
your group enjoys leaning into character and drama
you want something playful, cheeky, and a bit absurd
Vibe
big personalities, public spectacle, and comic collapse
ego, image, and a lot of theatrical mess
mischief, misunderstandings, and a little comic mayhem
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Want something entirely your own?
Design your own murder mystery from scratch — pick the setting, era, story, and shape every character yourself: names, backstories, even the quirks. Our AI builds a fresh, unique game in minutes, tailored to the people at your table.
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