The Spiral Staircase (1945)

Director:

Robert Siodmak

Writers:

Mel Dinelli (screenplay)
Ethel Lina White (novel)

Release Date:

December 1945 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

A serial killer (circa 1916) is targeting women with 'afflictions'; one night during a thunderstorm, mute Helen feels menaced.

Plot Keywords:

Mute | Mansion | Serial Killer | Murder | Professor

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

US TV Schedule:

Fri. June 8

8:00 PM

TCM

Cast

Dorothy McGuire	...	Helen Capel
George Brent	...	Professor Albert Warren
Ethel Barrymore	...	Mrs. Warren
Kent Smith	...	Dr. Brian Parry
Rhonda Fleming	...	Blanche
Gordon Oliver	...	Steve Warren
Elsa Lanchester	...	Mrs. Oates
Sara Allgood	...	Nurse Barker
Rhys Williams	...	Mr. Oates
James Bell	...	Constable
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Erville Alderson	...	Dr. Harvey (uncredited)
Ellen Corby	...	Neighbour (uncredited)
Myrna Dell	...	Murder Victim (uncredited)
George Holmes	...	The Killer's 'Shadow' (uncredited)
Stanley Price	...	Starry-eyed Man (uncredited)
Robert Siodmak	...	The Killer's 'Eye' (uncredited)
Richard Tyler	...	Freddy (uncredited)
Charles Wagenheim	...	Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Larry Wheat	...	Minister (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Siodmak

Writing credits
Mel Dinelli		(screenplay)
Ethel Lina White		(novel "Some Must Watch")

Produced by
Dore Schary	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Roy Webb

Cinematography by
Nicholas Musuraca		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Harry W. Gerstad		(as Harry Gerstad)
Harry Marker

Art Direction by
Albert S. D'Agostino
Jack Okey

Set Decoration by
Darrell Silvera

Costume Design by
Edward Stevenson		(gowns)

Production Management
Fred Fleck	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Harry Scott	....	assistant director

Sound Department
John L. Cass	....	sound
Terry Kellum	....	sound

Special Effects by
Vernon L. Walker	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Chris Crowell	....	digital compositor (restored version) (uncredited)

Music Department
C. Bakaleinikoff	....	musical director
Samuel Hoffman	....	musician: theremin (uncredited)

Other crew
Edgar Peterson	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures (presents) (as RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.)
• Dore Schary Productions (as A Dore Schary Production)
• Vanguard Films (for) (uncredited)

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1946) (USA) (theatrical) (as An R K O Radio Picture)
• Meteor Film Productions (1947) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (as Meteor Film)
• atlas Film (1948) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Selznick Releasing Organization (1956) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1973) (USA) (TV) (network premiere)
• A&M Associates (1981) (USA) (VHS)
• ABC Video Enterprises (1981) (worldwide) (VHS)
• International Coproductions (1981) (USA) (VHS)
• Magnetic Video (1981) (USA) (VHS)
• Pisces Group (1981) (USA) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Polyband & Toppic Video / WVG (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1947) (France) (theatrical)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Iceland:12 | UK:A (original rating) (1946) | West Germany:16 (f) | Germany:16 (video rating) | Netherlands:18 (original rating) (1947) | UK:PG (tv rating) | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (certificate #11150)

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Joan Crawford, after receiving critical praise for her performance in A Woman's Face (1941), at one point campaigned for the role of the deaf-mute girl played by Dorothy McGuire. Crawford also owned the rights, but MGM studio chief Louis B. Mayer vehemently opposed the idea, telling her "No more cripples or maimed women".

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The silent film showing at the Village Hotel is extremely scratched and flickery. This is as the print would be in 1945, but at the time the film is set it should be rather cleaner and less damaged.

Quotes:

Constable:She's dead!
Dr. Parry:Well, in that case, Constable, I certainly can't do her any harm.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Black Christmas (1974)

Soundtrack:

Waltz Op. 34 No. 2 in A minor

Terrific Thriller; Excellent Leading Performance

This is a terrific thriller, made just the way that thrillers should be done, with nicely crafted tension, atmospheric setting, and plenty of strange and mysterious characters. Adding in the excellent leading performance by Dorothy McGuire makes it a top-notch picture.

From the very beginning, the suspense begins to build, while at the same time McGuire's character Helen immediately attracts and holds the audience's concern and sympathy. The combination works very well, and while you're never sure what else is going on, or which of the other characters can be trusted, you know that Helen is in danger and that you care about her.

The rest of the cast are all nicely matched with their characters, and do a fine job of bringing them to life. Some of the plot developments probably would prove somewhat implausible if analyzed carefully, but the story and atmosphere are crafted so effectively that you never notice while watching.

Anyone who enjoys classic thrillers should make sure to see "The Spiral Staircase".