The Spiral Staircase (1946)

In 1916, a shadowy serial killer is targeting women with "afflictions"; one night during a thunderstorm, the mute Helen feels menaced.

Director:

Robert Siodmak

Writers:

Mel Dinelli (screenplay), Ethel Lina White (novel)

Stars:

Dorothy McGuire, George Brent, Ethel Barrymore

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Dorothy McGuire	...	Helen
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

Storyline

In 1916, beautiful young mute Helen is a domestic worker for elderly, ailing Mrs. Warren. Mrs. Warren's two adult sons, Albert (a professor) and womanizing impudent Steven, also live in the Warren mansion. Mrs. Warren becomes concerned for Helen's safety when a rash of murders involving 'women with afflictions' hits the neighborhood. She implores her physician, Dr. Parry, to take Helen away for her own safety. When another murder occurs inside the Warren mansion, it becomes obvious that Helen is in danger.

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Plot Keywords:

serial killer | murder | stepmother stepson relationship | psychological torment | insanity | 

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Taglines:

INSPIRED PORTRAYALS! (print ad - Lubbock Morning Avalanche - Tower Theatre - Lubbock, Texas - August 22, 1946 - all caps)

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

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 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".

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Goofs

When Helen lights the candle in a candle holder in the kitchen, she holds it on the bottom with her left hand, blocking the breeze with her right hand. The next shot is of her leaving the kitchen, still blocking with her right hand, but now holding the candlestick near the top of the holder instead of the bottom. She starts down the spiral staircase and as she rounds the first turn, she's once again holding the candle holder on the bottom.

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Quotes

Mrs. Warren: [fires her gun] Murderer, you killed them. You killed them all.

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Connections

Referenced in Deep Red (1975)

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Soundtracks

Waltz Op. 34 No. 2 in A minor
(uncredited)
Music by Frédéric Chopin
Played during the scene at the silent movie theater

User Reviews

A Gothic, Noirish, Hitchcockian Masterpiece.

Helen Capel was rendered mute in childhood due to a family trauma, now she acts as a companion to the bed ridden Mrs Warren. She's currently fretful because a serial killer is on the loose and he preys on women with afflictions...

Based on Ethel White's novel "Some Must Watch," The Spiral Staircase harks back to the days of the "old dark house" thrillers and encompasses a German expressionist sheen. The setting is an old Gothic mansion in New England at the turn of the century. Directed by Robert Siodmak, not one spooky house thriller genre convention has been neglected here. The tension builds amid creaking doors and gates, whistling winds, flickering candles, blowing curtains and cut-aways to the eyes of the unseen lurking madman waiting to add poor Helen to his roll call of victims. Mirrors, windows and shadows feature prominently as craftsman Siodmak spins his uneasy expressionistic web.

The cast are uniformly strong. Dorothy McGuire gives one of her best and most convincing performances as the under threat Helen. While Ethel Barrymore (nominated for Best Supporting Actress), Elsa Lanchester and George Brent all turn in brilliant performances. But perhaps it's not unfair to say that the real stars here are the technical staff? Siodmak expands his talent and knowing from his work at Universal Pictures (Son Of Dracula/The Suspect), Albert D'Agostino's sets are wondrous period delights and Nicholas Musuraca's deep-focus photography has the ability to make one keep looking over the shoulder to see if something is lurking in the room with us...

There's quite a few changes in this adaptation from the novel, notably the setting was in England and Helen was a cripple and not mute. But few could seriously argue that The Spiral Staircase in silver screen form is anything but a triumphant piece of classic cinema. 10/10

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 February 1946 (USA)

Also Known As:

Silence of Helen McCord

Filming Locations:

Detroit, Michigan, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures, Dore Schary Productions, Vanguard Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1