The Spiral Staircase [1946] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Customer Reviews:

Atmospheric thriller........2007-12-28

The original and best.

A claustrophobic picture with rather wooden performances from most of its cast - especially that of George Brent, who wasn't really such a great actor, but popular in his day. This also stars Elsa Lanchester - a great actress, who when not the leading lady, was able to do wonders with 'bit' parts. Here she plays the rather drab looking housekeeper. However, Elsa, contrary to popular opinion, was in fact a very attractive lady! (she should be seen in her more glamorous roles of the thirties) Her very pretty features can be seen here in one subtle shot when she is seen by candlelight in profile, as she knocks a candle to the floor when down in the cellar with George Brent.

Ethel Barrymore gives an award-winning performance as the ailing mother who knows all before it happens!

I suspect the murderer is given away almost immediately, because of the distinctive eye featured in the close up shots.

Great vintage thriller!

Who will live, who will die in this eerie mansion during a storm-swept night?.......2007-08-17

A forbidding mansion far from town, a night of driving rain and thunder, a mute young woman who works for the ill matriarch, a spiral staircase that goes down to the shadowy basement...and a killer who strangles women who are "imperfect."

The Spiral Staircase may not be full of frights, but it is an eerie exploration of suspense. The mansion itself is a great prop. Lit by candles and gas light, the rooms, covered with flocked wallpaper, are filled with flickering shadows, deep velvet curtains, carved marble fireplaces and dark oaken tables. Helen Capel (Dorothy McGuire), who became mute when she was a child, works there as a maid. She helps care for Mrs. Warren (Ethel Barrymore), the bedridden, ill and strong-willed matron of the house. Mrs. Warren has a son, Steve Warren (Gordon Oliver), an unreliable ne'er-do-well, and a stepson, Professor Albert Warren (George Brent). She has no illusions. "They are both weaklings," she says.

In the village, young women are being strangled...one had a limp, another was simple minded, one had a scar on her face. It's not long before we realize Helen is on the killer's list, and that the killer is most likely someone who lives in the Warren mansion. One person who seems drawn to Helen is Dr. Parry (Kent Smith), the new physician in the village. He is convinced that Helen can be made to speak and wants to take her to Boston for treatment. Mrs. Warren, although bedridden and often irascible, is no fool about the murders. When Helen is late coming home in the evening from the village, Mrs. Warren tells her, "Come here. I'd hoped you were never coming back. You should run away. Leave this house tonight if you know what's good for you!" During the long night, however, the killer shows his determination to make Helen his next victim.

It's not too hard to figure out who the killer most likely is. Since Dorothy McGuire is the star of the movie, it's also unlikely that her character will be killed. What makes this movie work so well, in my opinion, are several elements. First, not whether Helen will be killed, but what dangers will Helen face unable to call for help, including a final confrontation with the killer? Second, who among the supporting cast will be killed? There is the professor's secretary, Blanche (Rhonda Fleming), the cook (Elsa Lanchester), her husband (Rhys Williams) and the nurse (Sara Algood). It's unlikely all will live. Third, the production values of the movie. The Spiral Staircase is beautifully staged and filmed, with each shot framed for maximum creepy effect. The descent to the basement, where one killing takes place and another is attempted, is almost worth the price of the DVD itself. The place is deeply shadowed with wooden trusses and brick walls, piles of cut wood and an axe, heavy casks and rows of cobwebbed wine bottles...so many places to hide, and the only light coming from candles so easy to blow out. Fourth, the killings are subtly handled, which makes them all the more unsettling. The murderer is never shown until the end. Before then we only see his eyes. We never see the actual killings, either, only black shadow and white hands clutching at the air. And fifth, the performances of Dorothy McGuire and Ethel Barrymore. McGuire, in my view, was a fine actress with an innate quality of goodness about her. We worry about Helen because of McGuire's skill and personality. Barrymore was a dominant actress in all her roles. Here, bedridden, she must act with her eyes and her face. She becomes an implacable old woman who sees that justice is done.

Hugely entertaining thriller.......2004-06-07

This is a clever clever film. It grips from the word go.

All the classic ingredients of gothic melodrama are here - wind, rain, mansions, deranged killer on the loose. Dorothy Maguire's central performance as a traumatised young woman who is unable to speak ratchets up the thrill level without any of the usual campy cliches.

This is a stylish and absorbing film. Beautifully presented and with wonderful central roles. A genuine classic and thoroughly recommended

OK ATMOSPHERIC THRILLER..........2004-02-28

This film, based upon the book, "Some Must Watch" by Ethel Lina White, author of "The Lady Vanishes", which was made into a film by Alfred Hitchcock, is an atmospheric, gothic thriller. It not particularly suspenseful, however, as anyone with half a brain can figure out what is going on fairly early in the film.

The plot revolves around a turn of the century serial killer who singles out those who have some sort of affliction. At risk is Helen Capel (Dorothy McGuire), a young, mute woman, who works as a servant/companion for a crotchety invalid, Mrs. Warren (Ethel Barrymore), who lives in an enormous Gothic style mansion outside of town. There she lives with her step-son, Professor Warren (George Brent) and her biological son, Steve (Gordon Oliver). Mrs. Warren has some concern that Helen may be next on this serial killers hit list. She also suspects her biological son of the unspeakable.

There is friction in the household between Professor Warren and his brother Steve. It appears that they both are salivating over Blanche (Rhonda Fleming), a tasty morsel of flesh who acts as secretary to Professor Warren. There is also friction between Mrs. Warren and her private nurse , Nurse Barker (Sara Allgood) Moreover, the housekeeper, Mrs. Oates (Elsa Lanchester) has a drinking problem. What a motley crew. To complicate matters further, the town's new doctor, Dr. Parry (Kent Smith), hankers after Helen. It is also clear that the serial killer, for different reasons, also hankers after Helen. The only question is as to his identity and whether he can be stopped before Helen joins the ranks of the dearly departed.

OK ATMOSPHERIC THRILLER..........2004-01-26