The Spiral Staircase (1975)

Director:

Peter Collinson

Writers:

Ethel Lina White (novel), Chris Bryant,

Stars:

Jacqueline Bisset, Christopher Plummer, John Phillip Law

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jacqueline Bisset	...	Helen Mallory
Christopher Plummer	...	Dr. Joe Sherman
John Phillip Law	...	Steven Sherman (as John Philip Law)
Sam Wanamaker	...	Lt. Fields
Mildred Dunnock	...	Mrs. Sherman
Gayle Hunnicutt	...	Blanche
Elaine Stritch	...	Nurse
John Ronane	...	Dr. Rawley
Sheila Brennan	...	Mrs. Oates
Ronald Radd	...	Oates
Heather Lowe	...	Heather (Blind girl)
Christopher Malcolm	...	Policeman

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

dead woman with eyes open | murder | blind woman murdered | dead woman on ground | woman shot | 

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 January 1975 (UK)

Also Known As:

Das Geheimnis der Wendeltreppe

Filming Locations:

Binfield Manor, Binfield Road, Warfield, Berkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Raven Films (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was one of a number of pictures, mostly comedies, made and released between the mid-1970s and mid-1980s, that revived the old dark house mansion movie. The films include Clue, Haunted Honeymoon, Neil Simon's Murder by Death, The Spiral Staircase, The Cat and the Canary, House of the Long Shadows and Kenny Everett's Bloodbath at the House of Death.

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Connections

Version of The Spiral Staircase (1945)

User Reviews

no tolerance for imperfection

I was surprised when I learned that "The Spiral Staircase" was a remake of an earlier movie, and that it's been remade since. The movie is actually little that we haven't seen before: disabled - in this case mute - woman (Jacqueline Bisset) suspects that someone is trying to kill her, she moves in with family, and there's eventually a big showdown. And the ending was pretty anticlimactic; at one point, you can basically tell what's going to happen.

However, there was one thing that I derived from the movie. Christopher Plummer's character in one scene talks about no tolerance for imperfection. We in the 21st century have taken that to the extreme. We want everyone made up so that they all look the same, we go for style over substance, and more. Then again, I'm probably reading too far into the movie, as it was most likely intended as a straight thriller (although it doesn't really thrill).

Anyway, it's a mediocre way to pass time. Also starring Elaine Stritch and John Philip Law (the "Barbarella" angel).