The spiral staircase is a complete thrillride, from its prologue set in a turnofthecentury movie theater, to the emotionallydevastating conclusion. The spiral staircase 1946 full movie, audio fixed youtube. This occurs just after the shadowy shot of a woman descending a spiral staircase over which the credits roll. Robert siodmaks the spiral staircase is an ingeniously constructed suspense thriller which resulted in ethel barrymores nomination for best supporting actress. An unusual suspense film, the spiral staircase tells the story of a mute servant girl threatened by a murderer who has a penchant for killing the handicapped. Beautiful young mute helen is a domestic worker for old ailing mrs. The film was directed by james head with a screenplay by matt dorff, and stars nicollette sheridan, judd nelson, alex mcarthur, debbe dunning and holland taylor.
Jan 08, 2015 robert siodmaks the spiral staircase is an ingeniously constructed suspense thriller which resulted in ethel barrymores nomination for best supporting actress. Summary of discussion on the spiral staircase melodrama. Columbia signed the band, but insisted that they change their name. Kinos latest release, on blu ray and dvd, is the spiral staircase. In some ways it could be called the father of the italian giallo and the american slasher film.
The spiral staircase is part gothic womans picture it was initially put into development by womans film specialist and former rko production head david o. Warrens two sons, albert a professor and womanizing impudent steven, also live in the warren mansion. Ethel lina whites romanvorlage, erstmals 1933 als some must watch veroffentlicht, wurde nach erscheinen des films unter dem filmtitel the spiral staircase. The work is a patient, taut, well written old, dark house tale surrounding a serial killer years before such an antagonist would become standard horror fare. The spiral staircase, is one of the most infleuntial films of the 40s that most people arent overly familiar with. Director robert siodmak builds on the eerie atmosphere, making perfect use of the stark black and white photography to maximize the old dark houses shadowy passageways and cellar, blowing curtains and flickering. The cinematography is exquisite and shines on kinos new blu. Dorothy mcguire, george brent, ethel barrymore, kent smith. With dorothy mcguire, george brent, ethel barrymore, kent smith.
As pointed out by commentator imogen sara smith, the spiral staircase lands smack in the middle of a stack of 1940s movie trends. Then we see a silent film flickering on the screen. Spiral staircase is a thriller about a mute servant dorothy mcguire who works in an spooky mansion that may house a killer who has been murdering women who have physical deformities. After establishing a suitably creepy atmosphere, the film proceeds to communicate the films time and place. The opening scenes of the spiral staircase, where we first meet helen dorothy mcguire, takes place in a hotel ballroom that has been set up as a make shift movie theater.
Adapted from ethel lina whites british novel some must watch 1933 by screenwriter mel dinelli, the film follows a mute young woman in an early20th century vermont town being terrorized by a serial killer who targets disabled women. The spiral staircase may also be available with public performance rights ppr and digital site licensing dsl for colleges and universities. The spiral staircase features one of the longest thunderstorms in film history it lasts for almost the entire movie. The spiral staircase 1945 drama, mystery, thriller dorothy mcguire, george brent, ethel barrymore. The spiral staircase itself appears to be an after thought. The spiral staircase, a murder mystery, knowingly paced by director robert siodmak and shrewdly acted by an expert cast, including ethel barrymore, is choice, eerie entertainment. Warrens two adult sons, albert a professor and womanizing impudent steven, also live in the warren mansion. Spiral staircase is a thriller about a mute servant dorothy mcguire who works in an spooky mansion that. The band was renamed after the movie the spiral staircase, but with a deliberate misspelling. It is not in the same league as many of the films produced in that era. The spiral staircase 1946 directed by robert siodmak. This is an odd movie with performances that are just this side of bad tv. The spiral staircase resurfaced again in 2000 as a madeforcable feature film, which updated the original story from the early 20th century to the present day. Adapted from ethel lina white s british novel some must watch 1933 by screenwriter mel dinelli, the film follows a mute young woman in an early20th century vermont town being terrorized by a serial killer who targets disabled women.
Nov 29, 2019 the spiral staircase is a 1946 american psychological horror film 5 directed by robert siodmak and starring dorothy mcguire, george brent, and ethel barrymore. Judging by the cars in the opening shot of the town and the attire of the people, this is the 1920s, and so the film being shown on the first floor is a silent one, the kissan actual film starring greta garbo and conrad nagel. The spiral staircase 1946 journeys in classic film. The spiral staircase 2000 film the spiral staircase is a 2000 television film remake of the 1946 film the spiral staircase based on ethel lina whites novel some must watch. The plot focuses on a young woman named helen dorothy mcguire who suffered a childhood tragedy that left her mute.
Screenwriter mel dinelli, changed the location from britain to early 20th century vermont. This 1946 film is one of siodmaks least interesting. Dorothy mcguire holds the whole movie together, with her masterly performance as mute helen. The spiral staircase is a 1946 thriller directed by robert siodmak, starring dorothy mcguire, kent smith, and george brent mcguire is helen, a maid in the splendid warren family mansion in early 19thcentury new england. Nov 24, 2017 i love the spiral staircase, as much for its production values and the way its done as for its actual story. One day, while watching a silent film at an inn, helen sees. Dec 25, 2018 the spiral staircase is a complete thrillride, from its prologue set in a turnof the century movie theater, to the emotionallydevastating conclusion. Mar 29, 2020 the spiral staircase is based on the novel some must watch 1933 by british author ethel lina. Siodmak and cinematographer nicholas musuraca bring a distinctive style to the spiral staircase that is based on siodmaks roots in german cinema with its use of shadows and angular spaces, and. The 48d galvanized exterior spiral stair line is created by manufacturing the spiral staircase out of carbon steel. Netflixs the staircase true story where is michael. Sep 29, 2018 the spiral staircase is a film that belongs in any library, research center, or personal collection that wants to be comprehensive. Just as the film ends, a crash is heard in the room upstairs, and when the projectionist runs up the stairs to investigate, he discovers the body of a lame girl strangled to death. Then, to prepare the stair for exterior use, it goes through a hotdipped galvanizing process, which involves numerous steps to prepare the parts to be dipped into a.
The spiral staircase is a 1975 british horror mystery thriller film directed by peter collinson and starring jacqueline bisset and christopher plummer. Warrens methodical weakling removal make the staircase almost an image of a. Nuances come through nicely, too, and roy webbs eerie music score complements the action without calling. The spiral staircase 1946 classic horror film board. With its sensitive visuals and tone of unease, it certainly carries values associated with film noir. With jacqueline bisset, christopher plummer, john phillip law, sam wanamaker. Postponed the spiral staircase lenfest center for the. The spiral staircase is gothic horror at its best and, although it was filmed in 1945, well survives the test of time. The setup is brilliant, and the clues are all there. Comments on robert siodmaks the spiral staircase 1946 included the films temporal and geographical settings. The community has been disturbed of late by a serial killer who preys specifically on women who have some sort of disabilityin the past the killers victims included. Mood and pace are well set, and story grips throughout. Mcguire is helen, a maid in the splendid warren family mansion in early 19thcentury new england. For decades, terms and concepts that have been among the most frequently used to define film noir have not been applicable, in fact, to many movies that are considered film noir.
Oct 05, 2018 the spiral staircase is a gorgeous film and a dependable entry into the spooky mystery genre. Theres not much mystery to this film, its not hard to guess the identity of the perpetrator, given the limited number in the cast. The spiral staircase, filmed a number of times but first by robert siodmak in 1945. Adapted from ethel lina whites british novel some must watch 1933 by screenwriter mel dinelli, the film follows a mute young woman in an early20th century vermont town being terrorized by a serial. The expressionistic jabs at horror visuals point us in the direction of later psychhorror and eurohorror thrills. The spiral staircase is a 1946 american psychological horror film directed by robert siodmak and starring dorothy mcguire, george brent, and ethel barrymore. In 1945, a suspenseful classic film called the spiral staircase chilled audiences with its story and atmosphere. Aug 19, 2016 the spiral staircase was directed by robert siodmak, a veteran of noirs and thrillers, who was loaned out from universal pictures for the project. Dec 30, 2011 the spiral staircase 1946 begins at a hotel.
The spiral staircase is a gripping classic that needs to be seen by more horror fans. However, film fans ought to recognise what they became. Jul 15, 2007 the spiral staircase, is one of the most infleuntial films of the 40s that most people arent overly familiar with. In 1916, beautiful young mute helen is a domestic worker for elderly, ailing mrs. The spiral staircase echoes the great clue boardgame mr green, in the basement, with a rope as well as suggesting itself an early proponent of the slasher film, what with its classic crashbang thunderandlightning reveals and superb production design, which leads me to suggest that fans of classic cinema who havent yet. The spiral staircase is a 1946 american psychological horror film 5 directed by robert siodmak and starring dorothy mcguire, george brent, and ethel barrymore. The spiral staircase is a notable example of the kind of film noir that challenges traditional studies of film noir. The film certainly suffers in repeated comparison to the 1945 film, but it feels more. The spiral staircase is a 2000 television film remake of the 1946 film the spiral staircase based on ethel lina whites novel some must watch. Theres a hand written sign that states there are two showings, 4. For decades, terms and concepts that have been among the most frequently used to define film noir have not been applicable, in fact, to. This is a suspense film that might have inspired alfred hitchcocks later postwar cinema, especially films like psycho 1960 and. Dec 02, 2015 our discussion began with appreciation for the films opening.
The old mansion is a thing of beauty, crammed with big, ancient mirrors and incredibly ornate furnitures that form these evocative outlines and silhouettes. The spiral staircase 1946 robert siodmak with images. Dorothy mcguire inhabits a kind, sensitive presence that you root for. The spiral staircase is based on the novel some must watch 1933 by british author ethel lina. The spiral staircase this is a smooth production of an obvious, though suspenseful murder thriller, ably acted and directed. The spiral staircase, based on the 1933 ethel lina white novel entitled some must watch, is a story about a mute caregiver, helen dorothy mcguire, the enchanted cottage who has become a target for a serial killer who murders people because they are imperfect, physically or otherwise. It is a brilliantly produced noir horror that expertly offers elements of each genre with seamless cohesion. Ethel barrymore, elsa lanchester, and george brent costar, while dorothy mcguire expertly captures the dilemma of the mute helen capel.
As far as this film goes in the brief directorial career of collinson who died in 1980 at age 44 the spiral staircase is closer to his ten little indians 1975 than fright 1971 which was an even earlier slasher prototype than black christmas 1974. The lady vanishes, whose many adaptations include an oustanding one by alfred hitchcock in 1938. The spiral staircase 1946 approved 1h 23min drama, mystery, thriller 7 february 1946 usa in 1916, a shadowy serial killer is targeting women with afflictions. The spiral staircase was directed by robert siodmak, a veteran of noirs and thrillers, who was loaned out from universal pictures for the project. I love the spiral staircase, as much for its production values and the way its done as for its actual story. The spiral staircase is her autobiography, and provides the shortest and most personal access to understanding how she got to her current position of being an interpreter of religious tradition in the face of its cultured despisers richard dawkins, christopher hitchens and sam harris. Oct 05, 2018 the spiral staircase echoes the great clue boardgame mr green, in the basement, with a rope as well as suggesting itself an early proponent of the slasher film, what with its classic crashbang thunderandlightning reveals and superb production design, which leads me to suggest that fans of classic cinema who havent yet. The spiral staircase is a film directed by robert siodmak with dorothy mcguire, george brent, kent smith, ethel barrymore, year. The spiral staircase 1945 drama, mystery, thriller dorothy. Selznick and part expressionist horror cinematographer nicholas musuraca had lensed a number of val lewtons b horror films at rko.
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