The Spiral Staircase (1946)
February 6, 1946Release Date
The Spiral Staircase (1946)
February 6, 1946Release Date
Plot.
Where to Watch.
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Streaming in:🇺🇸 United States
Cast & Crew.
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
Erville Alderson
Dr. Harvey (uncredited)
Ellen Corby
Neighbour (uncredited)
Myrna Dell
Murder Victim (uncredited)
George Holmes
The Killer's 'Shadow' (uncredited)
Stanley Price
Starry-eyed Man (uncredited)
Robert Siodmak
The Killer's 'Eye' (uncredited) / Director
Richard Tyler
Freddy (uncredited)
Charles Wagenheim
Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Larry Wheat
Minister (uncredited)
Nicholas Musuraca
Director of Photography
Dore Schary
Producer
Ethel Lina White
Novel
Mel Dinelli
Screenplay
Albert S. D'Agostino
Art Direction
Media.
Details.
Release DateFebruary 6, 1946
StatusReleased
Running Time1h 23m
Content RatingNR
Budget$750,000
Box Office$2,800,000
Genres
Last updated:
This Movie Is About.
Wiki.
The Spiral Staircase is a 1946 American psychological horror film directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Dorothy McGuire, George Brent, and Ethel Barrymore. Set over the course of one evening, the film follows a mute young woman in an early-20th century Vermont town who is stalked and terrorized in a rural mansion by a serial killer targeting women with disabilities. Kent Smith, Rhonda Fleming, Gordon Oliver and Elsa Lanchester appear in supporting roles. It was adapted for the screen by Mel Dinelli from the novel Some Must Watch (1933) by Ethel Lina White.
The project originated with producer David O. Selznick, who purchased the rights to White's novel, intending to cast Ingrid Bergman in the lead role. Selznick subsequently sold the rights to RKO Radio Pictures, who commenced production and cast McGuire in the lead. Filming took place at the RKO Radio Pictures studio lot in Los Angeles between August and October 1945.
The Spiral Staircase premiered in New York City on February 6, 1946 and went on to become a box-office success, earning nearly $3 million. It was met by favorable critical reviews, praised for its cinematography, atmosphere, and suspense. Barrymore earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film. In the years since its release, film scholars have noted The Spiral Staircase for its stylistic mixture of horror and film noir elements, and cited it as a progenitor of the contemporary slasher film.