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The Spiral Staircase
The Spiral Staircase
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The Spiral Staircase

The Spiral Staircase

1946
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
1h 23m
Beautiful young mute Helen is a domestic worker for old ailing Mrs. Warren. Mrs. Warren's two 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. (imdb)

Directed by:

Robert Siodmak

Screenwriter:

Ethel Lina White, Mel Dinelli

Starring:

Rhonda Fleming, Dorothy McGuire, George Brent, Elsa Lanchester, Sara Allgood, Kent Smith, Ethel Barrymore, James Bell, Gordon Oliver, Rhys Williams, Erville Alderson

Genres:

Drama, Suspense/Thriller, Horror, Mystery

Country:

USA

Language:

English
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The Spiral Staircase

1946
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
1h 23m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 59.81% from 355 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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Rated 08 Sep 2012
75
77th
I like whodunnits, and I like movies set in big ol' scary houses, so this worked pretty well for me. Siodmak's direction is bold, full of expressionistic touches and interesting compositions. Dorothy McGuire's performance seems to split opinion, but I thought she was able to get the emotion of her character across with without needing dialogue.
Rated 08 Sep 2012
kasperlKasperL
Rated 03 Dec 2009
60
50th
Siodmak would go on to become a master of noir with 'The Killers' (1946) and 'Cry of the City' (1948) and you sense the potential here. It's more of a classical mystery, with some gothic touches, but while the who-dun-it elements are just fine many scenes with the female protagonist, mute by trauma, fall flat.
Rated 03 Dec 2009
eveeluneveelun
Rated 11 Dec 2008
75
59th
The story, dialogue, and acting are all pretty hokey - shallow characterization, fairly predictable twist, and some pretty hammy performances. But the direction is marvelous, with great transitions, camera movements, and framing.
Rated 11 Dec 2008
barthalenBarthalen
Rated 27 Jan 2020
71
59th
Pretty decent for what it is, where the not-that-interesting plot and character development is compensated for by the atmospheric look, feel and sound of everything.
Rated 27 Jan 2020
zipsterZipster
Rated 26 Dec 2014
65
8th
Though his subsequent noirs Criss Cross and The Killers are thrillingly stylish and enjoyable, with The Spiral Staircase, Robert Siodmak's attention is too disproportionately rooted in demonstrative Expressionist visuals---brooding shadow, ominously suggestive settings, the rumble and cracking of thunder, the flickering candlelight, the creaking door and the gusts of wind from out of nowhere---to give any cohesion or gravitas to the story or his unwaveringly wooden actors.
Rated 26 Dec 2014
ag0stomesmerAg0stoMesmer
Rated 31 Aug 2012
3
73rd
Melodramatic thriller. Nice visuals, dull middle third, some good creepy moments though.
Rated 31 Aug 2012
petrostserPetrosTser
Rated 20 Mar 2011
80
88th
Often compared to Fritz Lang and Alfred Hitchcock, Robert Siodmak was one of the greatest German directors of film noir. "The Spiral Staircase" is a sample of his technical skills, an absorbing horror film set in a haunting (or haunted) mansion, where pretty much everyone could be the serial killer. Sounds familiar but it came first.
Rated 20 Mar 2011
mandymandy
Rated 25 Nov 2010
4
6th
A black and white thriller full of all the cliches - an old house, a thunderstorm, a mute young female would be victim, an unknown serial killer within a small community. Somewhat predictable by today's standards but still entertaining.
Rated 25 Nov 2010
enthusiastEnthusiast
Rated 10 Feb 2010
60
22nd
Some nice photography and a handful of imaginative shots break up an otherwise interminable story. The enchanting Rhonda Fleming is woefully underused.
Rated 10 Feb 2010
seryxaSeryxa
Rated 09 Apr 2009
75
82nd
Archetypal old dark house thriller, superbly detailed and set during a most convincing thunderstorm. Even though the identity of the villain is pretty obvious, this is a superior Hollywood product.
Rated 09 Apr 2009
willofgaiawillofgaia
Rated 22 Mar 2007
70
22nd
Stats off with a very eerie and suspensful thirty minutes, but then decides to just stop, and the characters talk with each other for about another thirty minutes until the suspense kicks back in.
Rated 22 Mar 2007
cromcrom
Rated 30 Jun 2024
70
67th
Good old-fashioned horror, carefully staged by Robert Siodmak. Many classic scenes and an outstanding performance by Dorothy McGuire as the mute girl who has to admit that someone is after her for life in the big old house and that she doesn't know who she can trust. Exquisite thriller, blessed with symbols that have been tough stuff for the audience of the time.
Rated 30 Jun 2024
jpfergusonJPFerguson
Rated 27 Mar 2024
55
42nd
Also known as 'I'm Leaving This House Tonight' or 'Help Me, I'm A Mute'.
Rated 27 Mar 2024
elmakebabielmakebabi
Rated 27 Sep 2021
54
28th
So murder is the best medicine huh? Sure, the film cleverly uses the protagonist's incapability to build a tension and has its moments, but it doesn't have a strong mystery leg to stand on. Particularly, the backstory is criminally underdeveloped while the plot twists are overexplained as though the audience is 3 years old. I don't appreciate to be treated like I am an idiot. So give me `Wait Until Dark` - where Audrey Hepburn similarly plays a blind girl - any day!
Rated 27 Sep 2021
gabrielpGabriel_p
Rated 23 Feb 2021
70
44th
It keeps you engaged and entertained, which is no small feat for a +70 year old movie.
Rated 23 Feb 2021
braddad68braddad68
Rated 11 Feb 2021
86
23rd
It had all of the ingredients to be a great thriller, but didn't quite pull it off for me.
Rated 11 Feb 2021
punqPUNQ
Rated 29 Oct 2020
80
99th
Such a classic chiller!
Rated 29 Oct 2020
wetwillieswetwillies
Rated 21 Oct 2020
80
37th
Viewed October 19, 2020.
Rated 21 Oct 2020
oskarhuoskarhu
Rated 23 Sep 2019
78
63rd
Although too simple in its motifs, the aesthetics carry the film sufficiently enough to enjoy and appreciate the narrative.
Rated 23 Sep 2019
driscarpindriscarpin
Rated 12 Jun 2019
87
82nd
Siodmak era mesmo um mestre das sombras e atmosfera, apesar da estória a respeito de psicopata higienista se desenrolar de maneira meio óbvia, os meios visuais dos quais Siodmak expressa a tensão são maravilhosos. Darkflix TV.
Rated 12 Jun 2019
tipartipar
Rated 18 Jun 2018
60
68th
Interesting for the Mystery of not knowing who. It is well crafted for 1945.
Rated 18 Jun 2018
riverriversRiverRivers
Rated 30 Jun 2014
77
76th
With Nicolas Musuraca as cinematographer, and Robert Siodmak directing, how can you go wrong? Their personal touches elevate this from forgettable to a solid film. Especially Musuraca's wonderful camerawork.
Rated 30 Jun 2014
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 30 Nov 2013
38
24th
Utterly standard
Rated 30 Nov 2013
glm01glm01
Rated 16 Oct 2013
84
79th
83.500
Rated 16 Oct 2013
joojooJooJoo
Rated 06 Nov 2012
5
81st
Can't argue that the reveal is obvious, and some of the roles fail to excite (though, none leave a bad taste), but everything else is excellent. McGuire plays the mute/meek role incredibly well, and the music accompanies a continuous level of exemplary camerawork remarkably.
Rated 06 Nov 2012
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 24 Mar 2011
66
28th
Beautiful gothic stylization infused with ho-hum performances, ho-hum mystery and ho-hum melodrama. The bulk of the film explores the tensions in the household, while the menace lingers far in the background. The tense climax is welcome, but it's too little, too late. Ethel Barrymore is a hoot and Gordon Oliver is fun. But Dorothy McGuire in the lead is not up to the task of portraying a compelling mute character. It's a shame such fine camerawork is wasted on this rather drab material.
Rated 24 Mar 2011
bavafreakBavafreak
Rated 11 Feb 2011
95
90th
Magnificent mood piece, a precursor of sorts to the Italian giallo film. Suspenseful and well directed.
Rated 11 Feb 2011
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 21 May 2010
82
67th
A tiny bit tedious and obvious but it's short enough and intriguing enough that it's still tense and enjoyable.
Rated 21 May 2010
mechatiggerMechatigger
Rated 09 Dec 2009
86
74th
Breathlessly suspenseful mystery, superbly directed, a real thriller.
Rated 09 Dec 2009
slrsoapboxSlrSoapbox
Rated 29 May 2009
70
41st
Creepy and visually striking, but kind of forgettable.
Rated 29 May 2009
esmerodoEsmerodo
Rated 24 Apr 2008
99
96th
A hidden gem, a Victorian gothic thriller with young Dorothy McGuire as a mute young servant girl to an invalided elderly woman played by the famous Ethel Barrymore. I'm so glad I saw this film so I am able to appreciate Ms. Barrymore's acting talents.
Rated 24 Apr 2008
stainStain
Rated 13 Apr 2007
50
33rd
Possibly the first serial killer movie. Not very convincing, though
Rated 13 Apr 2007

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