The studios of RKO and David O. Selznick combined forces for The Spiral Staircase, a murder mystery and thriller set in rural New England during the 1910s. Although directed by Robert Siodmak, the film is strongly influenced by both Alfred Hitchcock and Val Lewton. The heavy suspense is like that of Hitchcock, while the moody atmosphere reminds the viewer of Lewton.
Most of the film takes place in a creepy, dark mansion during a stormy night. A string of murders has been committed in the small town by a serial killer stalking women with various afflictions. Logically, the next victim is Helen (Dorothy McGuire), a beautiful but mute servant girl. Inevitably, Helen is cornered by the psychotic killer in the spiral staircase of the old mansion.
Many familiar character actors have excellent supporting roles. Ethel Barrymore plays the fussy, bedridden matriarch of the Warren household, which also includes her obnoxious grown son Steve (Gordon Oliver) and his bookish half-brother Albert (George Brent). A slew of servants include Helen, an alcoholic cook (Elsa Lanchester), her handyman husband (Rhys Williams), and a nurse (Sara Allgood) who is endlessly fuming at Barrymore's distemper. Lovely Rhonda Fleming plays Albert's secretary, and is the subject of romantic jealousy between the two brothers.
Even veterans of mystery films may have trouble guessing the killer, although since all the evidence points to womanizing jerk Steve Warren, we know it can't be him. The suspense and tension rises throughout the film's second half, as McGuire is gradually stripped of her protectors and must face the killer by herself.
The familiar plot and techniques of The Spiral Staircase makes it seem like a lesser version of Psycho (1960). But the characters, especially the household servants, are well defined, and the film's tension is undeniable. The production values (script, direction, cinematography, sets and costumes) meet the high expectations of a joint production of Selznick and RKO.
McGuire's role was tailor made for Selznick's radiant future wife, Jennifer Jones. But surprisingly, Selznick apparently made no effort to cast Jones, whose big film that year instead was the lurid western Duel in the Sun.
McGuire was just one year removed from her best film, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945). She is very good in her mute performance, which becomes increasingly panic-stricken in correlation with her isolation. But it was Ethel Barrymore who received the film's only Academy Award nomination, as Best Supporting Actress. McGuire would have to wait another year to be nominated as Best Actress, for her role in Gentleman's Agreement (1947).
The story was based upon Ethel Lina White's novel "Some Must Watch", in which the heroine was crippled rather than mute. The novel was first adapted into a radio production starring Helen Hayes, before it became one of the best feature films from 1946.
The Spiral Staircase has since been remade for television on several occasions. A 1975 version has been much derided, while a Fox Family Channel production from earlier this year quickly disappeared into obscurity. (71/100)
Mystery DVD - The wonderfully suspenseful psychological drama Spiral Staircase is the prototype of the "old dark house, lady in distress" thriller, fu...More at Barnes and Noble
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