13 Frightened Girls! (1963)

Thirteen international diplomats’ daughters in a Swiss boarding school (Miss Pittford’s Academy) – led by American teenager Candy Hull (Kathy Dunn) –  stir up trouble on their vacation as they mess with the diplomatic affairs of their elders and get into serious trouble when a Russian spy is discovered murdered.

Candy uncovers a murder in the Chinese embassy and sends her father, John (Hugh Marlowe) notes – using the codename “Kitten” – containing information she has gleaned from her friends’ fathers to assist him in cracking a spy ring.

Murray Hamilton plays John Hull’s assistant, Wally Sanders – the object of Candy’s affection and the only person who knows the true identity of “Kitten”.

Unfortunately, he is already smitten with a female colleague named “Soldier” (Joyce Taylor).

Although nominally set in Switzerland and other embassies in Europe, the film was actually shot in Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Valley, and Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino National Forest, California.

Leonard Maltin called it “juvenile” and “pure camp”. It’s both those things, but if you enjoyed The Trouble With Angels or the Gidget movies you’ll probably enjoy this. By the way, there are actually 15 girls in the film – and none of them is frightened.

Candace “Candy” Hull (USA)
Kathy Dunn
Wally Sanders
Murray Hamilton
Soldier
Joyce Taylor
John Hull
Hugh Marlowe
Kang
Khigh Dhiegh
Mike
Charlie Briggs
Miss Pittford
Norma Varden
Peter Van Hagen
Garth Benton
María Cristina (Argentina)
María Cristina Servera
Janet (Australia)
Janet Mary Prance
Penny Anne (Canada)
Penny Anne Mills
Alex (England)
Alexandra Bastedo
Ariane (France)
Ariane Glaser
Ilona (Germany)
Ilona Schütze
Anna (Italy)
Anna Baj
Aiko (Japan)
Aiko Sakamoto
Natasha (Russia)
Gina Trikonis
Judy (Liberia)
Judy Pace
Luz (Mexico)
Luz Gloria Hervias
Marie-Louise (Sweden)
Marie-Louise Bielke
Ignacia (Venezuela)
Ignacia Farias Luque
Mai-Ling (China)
Lynne Sue Moon

Director
William Castle