Staircase (1969)

Charles Dyer and Harry Leeds are a couple that have been living together for nearly 20 years. Both earn a living as hairdressers in the West End of London and both care deeply for their ... See full summary »

Director:

Stanley Donen

Writers:

Charles Dyer (screenplay), Charles Dyer (play)

Stars:

Rex Harrison, Richard Burton, Cathleen Nesbitt

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Rex Harrison	...	Charles Dyer
Richard Burton	...	Harry Leeds, Owner of Chez Harry
Cathleen Nesbitt	...	Harry's Mother
Beatrix Lehmann	...	Charlie's Mother
Michael Rogers	...	Drag Singer
Royston Starr	...	Drag Singer
Jake Kavanagh	...	Choirboy
Dermot Kelly	...	Gravedigger
Gordon Heath	...	George the Policeman
Avril Angers	...	Miss Ricard
Neil Wilson	...	Policeman
Shelagh Fraser	...	Cub Mistress
Gwen Nelson	...	Matron
Pat Heywood	...	Nurse
Stephen Lewis	...	Jack

Storyline

Charles Dyer and Harry Leeds are a couple that have been living together for nearly 20 years. Both earn a living as hairdressers in the West End of London and both care deeply for their mothers, but not each other as time apart takes its toll on their relationship when Harry has to care for his invalid mother who snips at him every chance she gets.

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Plot Keywords:

hairdresser | older man older man relationship | homosexual | london england | old men | 

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Taglines:

Whoops!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

France USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 August 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

L'escalier

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

On-screen credits photographically juggle names of Richard Burton and Rex Harrison so quickly it is nearly (and deliberately) impossible to figure out who is top-billed star without benefit of home video freeze frame.

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Quotes

Charles Dyer: I feel like a whore at a choir boy's orgy.

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Crazy Credits

The credits are repeated over and over, getting smaller at the top of the screen to give the image of a staircase.

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Connections

Referenced in Sex at 24 Frames Per Second (2003)

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Soundtracks

"Staircase"
Written by Dudley Moore and Stanley Donen
Performed by Michael Rogers and Royston Starr

User Reviews

Quite Enjoyable!

This film was one of the best for its' time and subject matter. I salute Rex Harrison and Richard Burton for taking on such unconventional roles in 1969. I really loved this movie, and came to understand and appreciate what gay life was like in London in those days.