Film Review
Possibly the most Hitchcockian thriller
not to have been directed by Alfred
Hitchcock,
The Spiral Staircase
is the ultimate "old dark house" thriller. It has inspired
countless imitations but has rarely been surpassed. The
film should under no account be confused with its dull 1975 remake (with the
same title), which is unutterably dire.
This is one of the best films to be directed by Robert Siodmak, a filmmaker who
is best remembered for his stylish film noir thrillers such as
The
Killers (1946) and
Criss
Cross (1949). The lead is played by Dorothy McGuire, one
of the most talented actresses working in Hollywood at the time, who is
perfect in the role of the vulnerable yet resilient heroine.
There is also a great supporting cast, which includes Elsa Lanchester. Much
of the film's suspense arises from the murky amibiguity of the secondary characters -
virtually any one of them has the potential to emerge as the killer (although
we can probably rule out the dog).
With its stark expressionistic design and cinematography, to say
nothing of its atmospheric Gothic set,
The Spiral Staircase hss not just
the feel but the
actual
living substance of the darkest nightmare. The enormous swathes
of shadow which drape the sinister mansion interior and dwarf the
protagonists resemble the talons of some gigantic night beast that is
constantly on the verge of striking.
From the very first shot to
the very last, there is a sense of menace and anticipation that is both
spellbinding and terrifying, slowly building to a dizzying climax in
the final nerve shattering ten minutes. No wonder the film
shocked audiences when it was first released - it has much the same
impact today, particularly if you watch it alone, with the lights
turned out - preferably in a dark old house...
© James Travers 2008
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Next Robert Siodmak film:
The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry (1945)
Film Synopsis
In a New England town of the early 1900s, disabled young women are
being murdered by an unknown killer. Mrs Warren, the bedridden
owner of an old Gothic mansion, is convinced that her dumb servant girl
Helen will be the next victim and urges her to go away. As the
police investigate the killings, suspicion falls on Mrs Warren's
troublesome younger son, Steven, who is hated by both his mother and
his brother, a studious Professor. One evening, events conspire
against Helen so that she ends up alone in the old house and entirely
at the mercy of the killer...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.