Dorothy McGuire, George Brent & Ethel Barrymore in "The Spiral Staircase" (1946)
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- Опубликовано: 5 фев 2025
- In a village in 1906 Vermont, Helen (Dorothy McGuire), a mute girl, attends a silent film screening in a local inn. During the screening, a paraplegic woman limps out of the theatre to her room. She is strangled by a man who was hiding in her closet. Her murder is the third in a string of killings in the community.
Dr. Parry (Kent Smith) drives Helen to the Warren home, a large estate outside town where Helen is employed as a live-in companion for the bedridden Mrs. Warren (Ethel Barrymore). Also residing in the house are Mrs. Warren's stepson Albert (George Brent), a local professor; her son, Steven (Gordon Oliver), a charming playboy; and live-in staff: Mrs. Oates (Elsa Lanchester), a housekeeper; her husband Mr. Oates (Rhys Williams), a handyman; Blanche (Rhonda Fleming), Albert's beautiful secretary who is having an affair with Steven, who has recently returned from abroad; and Nurse Barker (Sara Allgood), who Mrs. Warren verbally abuses.
Mrs. Oates discusses the murder and expresses fear for Helen, as the killer appears to be targeting women with disabilities. After Mrs. Warren loses consciousness, Dr. Parry is summoned to the home. Nurse Barker discovers that the bottle of ether has gone missing, and Albert sends Mr. Oates to retrieve some in town. Meanwhile, Mrs. Warren regains consciousness and urges Dr. Parry to take Helen with him. He offers to take Helen to Boston and help her work through the trauma of her parents' death, the shock of which triggered her muteness.
Blanche is attacked and strangled by the killer. Helen finds her corpse in the basement and is confronted by Steven. Frightened that he is responsible, she locks him downstairs and flees upstairs.
Albert finds Helen frantic, and she writes on a notepad that Blanche has been murdered. As he follows her up the staircase to Mrs. Warren's room, he confesses to killing her out of jealousy. Albert then reveals how he got everyone out of the way to get her alone, and that he has a goal of killing the "weak and imperfect of the world." Helen flees, locking herself in Mrs. Warren's bedroom.
Meanwhile, the Constable (James Bell) shows up. Helen returns to the basement to free Steven but finds Albert waiting. He chases her, but Mrs. Warren shoots Albert, killing him, and Helen screams in horror. Mrs. Warren explains that she suspected Albert was the killer, but wasn't sure because the murders stopped when Steven was away. She notes Albert started killing again when Steven returned to cast suspicion on him.
Mrs. Warren orders Helen to retrieve Steven, so she frees him from the basement closet. Mrs. Warren embraces him and dies on the staircase in his arms. Downstairs, Helen calls Dr. Parry on the telephone. She is now able to fully speak.
A 1946 American Black & White psychological horror film directed by Robert Siodmak, produced by Dore Schary, screenplay by Mel Dinelli, based on Ethel Lina White's novel "Some Must Watch" (1933), cinematography by Nicholas Musuraca, starring Dorothy McGuire, George Brent, Ethel Barrymore, Kent Smith, Gordon Oliver, Rhonda Fleming, Elsa Lanchester, Sara Allgood, Rhys Williams, James Bell, and Carlton the Bulldog as Himself.
The close-ups of the killer's eyes and hands are those of director Robert Siodmak.
Ethel Barrymore received an Academy Award nomination for Supporting Actress.
The silent film in the cinema at the beginning is D.W Griffith's "The Sands of Dee" (1912), starring Mae Marsh and Robert Harron.
There are several major differences from the novel. The maid stalked by the killer was not mute. It was set in contemporary England, not early 1900's New England. Finally, the title of the film and the idea of incorporating a spiral staircase as a thematic element comes from another source entirely: Mary Roberts Rinehart's 1908 novel "The Circular Staircase." The heroine of the book was not mute or crippled, nor were any of the murderer's victims.
A good many plot elements in this film were picked up and used in the February 15, 1965 episode of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, titled "An Unlocked Window."
This was one of RKO's biggest hits of the 1940s.
RKO Pictures acquired the rights from independent producer David O. Selznick, along with several others he owned, in order to help Selznick finance the Western "Duel in the Sun" (1946). Under the terms of the sale, Selznick was given a back end cut of the film's earnings, and subsequently gave star Dorothy McGuire a convertible as a bonus for appearing in the film. The screenplay originally bore the same title as White's novel, though a subsequent working title for the project was "The Silence of Helen McCord."
The plot keeps the tension until the very end in this eerie and atmospheric, heart-pounding, suspenseful stylish film with magnificent Black & White cinematography that follows the German Expressionism, and wonderful set decoration in Victorian style. If you like film noir, thrillers, or subtle horror, this cinematic perfection is a must-see.
Classic movies that are timeless. Never grow old.❤
Welcome.
These movies are timeless
And such quality
Welcome. I post 1940s movies here: ruclips.net/p/PLk3CReZFhoBeBy_sp9bjwIeMvW_JZ57B_
Watched this years ago when I was baby sitting for my younger cousin. We both got spooked by the music and the atmosphere of this film. Has stayed in my memory for all these years.
Thanks for sharing that.
I've seen this movie at least 50 times, and, love it. What's not to love, a spooky mansion on a stormy, night w/thunder & lighting, and a mad killer on the prowl, a lovely innocent young girl & love is in the air.
OK great thanks for ruining the plot for me ha ha just kidding I’m going to watch it right now 😂
@@noneyabizniss1765 I didn't give too much away. I didn't name the killer! LOL! I do love the movie.
That’s 50 x 1hr . 23.35 ha. I haven’t added that up…..I love the oldies
Love the classics ❤
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Exactly what I was hoping to find, A Real Jewel of an Old Classic Movie. Thank you for sharing.
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Incredible direction by Robert Siodmak. Wonderful cast, Magnificent photography. Great screenplay. I could go on. Thank you DB.
Yeah..and old goodie i love these....❤
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I saw this as a child and for a long time I was afraid of spiral staircases.
Ha! Childhood memories. Thanks for watching.
🥰Thank you 👍Great movie , great cast . Nice to see 6 favorite players . 🥰
My favorite !
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Great suspenceful movie.Thank you,for showing it.
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As soon as i saw the dog, i knew this movie MIGHT be worth watching!!
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Nothing like a dream ~ something to look forward to is always necessary!.🙏🏽💫👈🏼
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Just love the old b&w classics ❤
Welcome. I post 1940s movies here: ruclips.net/p/PLk3CReZFhoBeBy_sp9bjwIeMvW_JZ57B_
Beautiful film.... one of the kind and timeless!!!
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Loved this movie. 😊.thanks guys .keep up the awesome job posting such great movies
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Great film Great actors Great music
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Thanks for sharing it's been years since I first saw this film
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Love this movie! ❤😊🎉 Thank you for sharing! Classic!
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Good film thank you. 🇬🇧
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i remember this old film, its great. thank you 🎬🎥🎥🎥😀
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This is a good movie. George Brent, is my absolute favorite actor, and it was so difficult to see him in a role where he is not a lover or a hero!😪
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Excellent! What a great movie! Thanks!
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Thank you. Just found you and already watched 3.
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Thank you for the upload 🙏🏻
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Loved it.....not sure I could watch it twice though, except maybe again in about 10 years.
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Excellent haunting feel to this movie and the actors are perfectly picked for each part especially Ethel Barrymore unrated actress of all time. She's delish!💋🏳🌈
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great old movie clean and full of suspense
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It's simply amazing what faces can communicate without speech. McGuire is giving a great performance here. The silent movies were powerful. I call it lyric expression, lyric theater.
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Such a great production.
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My favorite since I was a kid. Best suspense movie ever, except maybe for Sorry, Wrong Number.
Fond memories. Glad you enjoy it!
Rhonda Fleming is in this and wonderful. Who knew she was a talented singing star too and a regular performer at the Hollywood Bowl?
She was nicknamed the "Queen of Technicolor" because she photographed so well in that medium. Thanks for watching!
Very good thriller.
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This is a great one, thanks for sharing
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Ethel Barrymore! What a great lady!
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a top notch noir by Siodmak. And Nicholas Musuraca was an outstanding noir cinematographer!!
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Great movie
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Excellent movie.
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Good movie. Thank you.
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Wonderful movie
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I loved this movie,but after watching it, I have to go to my closest and and make sure no one’s hiding behind the clothes. It’s sad they don’t make movies like this anymore.
Ha! I hear you. Glad you enjoyed it!
FILM AT ITS FINEST....*_°... 🔱⭐.....
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For thrillers, this is a good one.
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This movie instilled me with a deep-seated fear of spiral staircases. But I always thought this was from the book by Rinehart.
It was adapted for the screen by Mel Dinelli from the novel "Some Must Watch" (1933) by Ethel Lina White. Thanks for the visit!
Much obliged.
Welcome.
I watched this back in 2022 :)
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@@DonaldPBorchersOG you're very welcome❣
By making you comfortable, it's more sickening, because it harks at the genuine psychology of serial killers. And the family setting is apt, as most murders occur in the home.
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Great film one of my all-time favorites.. Alfred Hitchcock couldn't have done it better. Very moody and creepy . Keep posting great films like this please
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Good movie
.ty
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Elsa Lanchester The Bride of Frankenstein herself!!
Yes! I noticed that
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When he tells her to get the ether, why does she just stand there??!
Good question. Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?
Subtitle option is not enough..
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Oh my, what a heavy handed score. I always liked this film, but almost couldn't watch it because of the intrusive music.
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What kind of place is that? A hotel with a movie theater in it??!
It was not uncommon to have something upstairs. Taverns had hotels. The small town I am from has a 1900s movie theatre, still in operation. The large space above was converted into a dance studio
What @lisawentworth6831 said.
I like their solution for trauma: more trauma! 😆
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❤ RKO ❤
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seems noone noticed the eyes were dark yet george brent had blue eyes
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How in the world is a mute girl a companion??! 😂🤣
Your Ignorant!
See the movie A Patch of Blue. Then you'll.know how a mute person can be a companion. Even a dog can show expression though it can't speak
...that way she can't talk back. They often liked quiet, mousy people as companions.
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How is the woman a 'parappalegic' if she just has a limp? But good movie, nice break from Lifetime movies
So true!❤
Good point. Thanks for watching. Since you like Lifetime movies, you might want to check out my production "Tall, Dark and Deadly" (1995): ruclips.net/video/Y3ivgjYEvpI/видео.html
What an easy acting job no lines!! 😂🤣
Ha! Thanks for watching.
This movie is an excellent " whodunnit " . It more or less achieves the Agatha Christie gold standard : The perpetrator who is revealed near the very end is the least you'd expect or suspect.
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Hablá bien además habla seria jovencita
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Boring. Couldn’t finish watching it.
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Flipsy flim flam
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When cheesy is so well done, it's not that cheesy. Thumbs up for Ethel Barrymore and the sound effects of the thunder and lightning.
The last two sentences made my hair stand on end. The drama!! 😄
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