The Spiral Staircase

"Conflicts that freeze your emotions! Suspense that takes your breath!"

1946 1h 23m EN

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 283

HorrorMysteryThrillerDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

On a stormy night, the mute servant to an ailing matriarch is stalked by a serial killer.

“Conflicts that freeze your emotions! Suspense that takes your breath!”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

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

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Robert Siodmak
Writers: Mel Dinelli
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

83 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $0.8M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 3.7× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

80 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Robert Siodmak, shot by Nicholas Musuraca. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Roy Webb. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Harry Marker shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Dorothy McGuire and George Brent and Ethel Barrymore carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Robert Siodmak directs. Nicholas Musuraca behind the camera. Roy Webb scores. Harry Marker cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

183 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Shot for just $0.8M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
3Made its money back 3.7× over at the box office.
480 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
5Directed by Robert Siodmak, shot by Nicholas Musuraca. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Roy Webb. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Harry Marker shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Dorothy McGuire and George Brent and Ethel Barrymore carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "Conflicts that freeze your emotions! Suspense that takes your breath!".
10IMDB entry: tt0038975 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Classified under 26 themes, including "based on novel or book", "staircase", "childhood trauma", "violence against women".