The Spiral Staircase (A- or 3.5/4 stars
Director Robert Siodmak helms 1946's 'The Spiral Staircase', a wonderfully eerie "lady in distress in an old dark house" thriller in the vein of Alfred Hitchcock. The film is set in a big, old, creepy New England Victorian mansion circa the year 1900, where there's a serial killer on the loose murdering only young local women with noticeable, physical afflictions. Why physical afflictions, you ask? Well, it is later learned that he/she wants to rid the world of people with imperfections; giving us a healthy dose of Freudian psychology. Shot in a German expressionistic style that the director was noted for, the brilliant & creepy opening murder scene (we never see the killer, only his/her eyes peeking out from hiding places) in a hotel sets a suspenseful mood that the film maintains throughout.
Ambitious newcomer-to-the-community, Dr. Parry (Kent Smith), has a crush on the beautiful young housekeeper, Helen Capel (an excellent Dorothy McGuire), who is mute from a childhood trauma & works in the aforementioned Victorian mansion of a wealthy, but demanding, bed-ridden widow, Mrs. Warren (Ethel Barrymore, that wonderful Grand Dame of stage & screen). Afraid for her safety, Dr. Parry gives her a ride in his carriage back to the Warren's palatial home, but must drop her half way there as he receives an emergency call. Walking home in the dark woods, she's frightened by the sounds of the encompassing woods, but arrives safely at the mansion's gates -- unseen to her are the same eyes that killed earlier before spying on her from behind some bushes ... creeeepy.
Soon the local constable comes to the Warren home to warn that the killer has been tracked to their vicinity. Biology Professor Warren (George Brent) & his dissolute stepbrother Steve (Gordon Oliver), are told by said constable to be careful & watch out for Helen (as a potential next target). The other house members include: Nurse Barker (Sara Allgood), who is treated with contempt by the crabby Mrs. Warren; household servant couple, the cook Emma (Elsa Lanchester) & her caretaker husband Mr. Oates (Rhys Williams); and beautiful live-in secretary, Blanche (Rhonda Fleming). Mrs. Warren warns Helen that she believes the killer to be in her own house! Family problems are ultimately revealed that show many dark clouds hanging over them. In this hair-raising setting, the serial killer comes after the defenseless Helen as the other members of the house become occupied ... or die themselves. Scares ensue en route to a suspenseful conclusion.
Director Robert Siodmak throws every cinematic horror/thriller genre trick at us. I mean, we've got Mrs. Warren's haunting 3-tiered mansion, blowing leaves, rumbling thunder, a torrential storm brewin', shadowy Victorian drawing rooms, twisted stairwells, dark corners, flickering candles in the night, creaaaaking doors, banging shutters from the howling wind outside, ominous noises, wide-eyed damsels-in-distress, a menacing killer whose true identity is only revealed near the end ..... this movie has it ALL. In fact, I feel that 'The Spiral Staircase' was the prototype for all other genre films of this ilk that came after it. Soooooo many other gothic thrillers try to have the same effect as 'The Spiral Staircase' but, few can hold a candle to it {pun intended}.
Dorothy McGuire is great as our innocent heroine Helen & gives a completely convincing performance in the difficult role of a traumatized mute. She uses her expressive face to convey all of Helen's emotions: sweetness, fear, & bravery. Ethel Barrymore received an Academy Award nomination for her typically-stellar performance as Mrs. Warren; she plays the role with great relish. The whole cast is superb, knowing how to eeek out the most tension & suspense that is necessary for the story. 'The Spiral Staircase' is just an elegant, atmospheric suspense film that is executed with great skill & craftsmanship. Are there some creaky spots in the plot? Sure. Could it have gone further/deeper with its psychological ramifications? Sure. But as is, I really enjoyed this thriller -- best to watch alone at night!
Ambitious newcomer-to-the-community, Dr. Parry (Kent Smith), has a crush on the beautiful young housekeeper, Helen Capel (an excellent Dorothy McGuire), who is mute from a childhood trauma & works in the aforementioned Victorian mansion of a wealthy, but demanding, bed-ridden widow, Mrs. Warren (Ethel Barrymore, that wonderful Grand Dame of stage & screen). Afraid for her safety, Dr. Parry gives her a ride in his carriage back to the Warren's palatial home, but must drop her half way there as he receives an emergency call. Walking home in the dark woods, she's frightened by the sounds of the encompassing woods, but arrives safely at the mansion's gates -- unseen to her are the same eyes that killed earlier before spying on her from behind some bushes ... creeeepy.
Soon the local constable comes to the Warren home to warn that the killer has been tracked to their vicinity. Biology Professor Warren (George Brent) & his dissolute stepbrother Steve (Gordon Oliver), are told by said constable to be careful & watch out for Helen (as a potential next target). The other house members include: Nurse Barker (Sara Allgood), who is treated with contempt by the crabby Mrs. Warren; household servant couple, the cook Emma (Elsa Lanchester) & her caretaker husband Mr. Oates (Rhys Williams); and beautiful live-in secretary, Blanche (Rhonda Fleming). Mrs. Warren warns Helen that she believes the killer to be in her own house! Family problems are ultimately revealed that show many dark clouds hanging over them. In this hair-raising setting, the serial killer comes after the defenseless Helen as the other members of the house become occupied ... or die themselves. Scares ensue en route to a suspenseful conclusion.
Director Robert Siodmak throws every cinematic horror/thriller genre trick at us. I mean, we've got Mrs. Warren's haunting 3-tiered mansion, blowing leaves, rumbling thunder, a torrential storm brewin', shadowy Victorian drawing rooms, twisted stairwells, dark corners, flickering candles in the night, creaaaaking doors, banging shutters from the howling wind outside, ominous noises, wide-eyed damsels-in-distress, a menacing killer whose true identity is only revealed near the end ..... this movie has it ALL. In fact, I feel that 'The Spiral Staircase' was the prototype for all other genre films of this ilk that came after it. Soooooo many other gothic thrillers try to have the same effect as 'The Spiral Staircase' but, few can hold a candle to it {pun intended}.
Dorothy McGuire is great as our innocent heroine Helen & gives a completely convincing performance in the difficult role of a traumatized mute. She uses her expressive face to convey all of Helen's emotions: sweetness, fear, & bravery. Ethel Barrymore received an Academy Award nomination for her typically-stellar performance as Mrs. Warren; she plays the role with great relish. The whole cast is superb, knowing how to eeek out the most tension & suspense that is necessary for the story. 'The Spiral Staircase' is just an elegant, atmospheric suspense film that is executed with great skill & craftsmanship. Are there some creaky spots in the plot? Sure. Could it have gone further/deeper with its psychological ramifications? Sure. But as is, I really enjoyed this thriller -- best to watch alone at night!