IMDb > The Spiral Staircase (1945)
The Spiral Staircase
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The Spiral Staircase (1945) More at IMDbPro »

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The Spiral Staircase (1945) -- A serial killer (circa 1916) is targeting women with 'afflictions'; one night during a thunderstorm, mute Helen feels menaced...
The Spiral Staircase (1945) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.7/10   2,913 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 13% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Ethel Lina White (novel)
Mel Dinelli (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Spiral Staircase on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
December 1945 (USA) more
Plot:
A serial killer (circa 1916) is targeting women with 'afflictions'; one night during a thunderstorm, mute Helen feels menaced... full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. more
NewsDesk:
50 Influential Scream Queens: Part 2
 (From Fangoria. 27 October 2009, 10:57 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
A lesson in atmosphere more (75 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Dorothy McGuire ... Helen Capel
George Brent ... Professor Warren
Ethel Barrymore ... Mrs. Warren
Kent Smith ... Dr. Parry

Rhonda Fleming ... Blanche
Gordon Oliver ... Steve Warren

Elsa Lanchester ... Mrs. Oates
Sara Allgood ... Nurse Barker

Rhys Williams ... Mr. Oates
James Bell ... Constable
more
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Silence of Helen McCord (USA) (working title)
Some Must Watch (USA) (working title)
more
Runtime:
83 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:
Iceland:12 | UK:A (original rating) (1946) | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG (re-rating) (2004) | USA:Unrated

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The silent film within the film that the audience watches at the beginning is The Sands of Dee (1912), directed by D.W. Griffith. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When Helen first walks up the main staircase, she pauses to look at herself in the mirror. In the next shot as the camera slowly rolls backwards, she is still looking in the "mirror" but there is no reflection of herself (just a painting designed to look like mirror). more
Quotes:
Constable: She's dead!
Dr. Parry: Well, in that case, Constable, I certainly can't do her any harm.
more
Movie Connections:
Version of The Spiral Staircase (2000) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
Waltz Op. 34 No. 2 in A minor more

FAQ

What were Helen's first words?
Where is that old Victorian mansion located?
Why couldn't Helen speak?
more
28 out of 41 people found the following comment useful.
A lesson in atmosphere, 6 September 2004
8/10
Author: The_Void from Beverley Hills, England

The Spiral Staircase is one of the most eerie and atmospheric films that I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. The entire movie gives off a sense of malice throughout, and the use of music here is some of the best I've ever seen in a movie. The film's plot follows a series of murders, of which all the victims are people with imperfections. Our hero is Helen; a young mute girl that works as a nurse for Mrs Warren, an old lady that lives in a big house. Aside from the old lady, also living in the house are her two sons; Albert and Steven, along with a few other people such as the maid. As the murders are being committed on imperfect women, the old lady becomes concerned for her mute nurse and begs her to leave. When another murder is committed in the house, the danger that the young girl is in becomes more apparent.

The first thing you will notice about this hidden gem is it's striking cinematography and lush settings. The film is very Gothic, and that gives it a very foreboding atmosphere. This is without doubt the best things about the film; in a dark thriller such as this, the atmosphere is always important, and as I said; this film has plenty. The film also features a lot of intrigue. As it has many characters that could be suspects, it leaves you guessing. Playing it's cards very close to it's chest, we don't find out who is the murderer until the very last minute.

The cast of The Spiral Staircase don't excel individually, but they come together very well as an ensemble. Most of them would never make another notable movie, although the majority have rather large filmographies. Robert Siodmak takes the directors chair, and he should be commended for his work. His use of the camera is excellent; the film features numerous close-ups, and when coupled with the haunting music; it makes for a great eeriness. There is one sequence in particular where the killer is watching his would-be victim from some bushes in the rain, and that with the haunting music in the background is altogether one of the most frightening sequences ever filmed. Cinematic perfection.

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