DVD Review: The Spiral Staircase (1946)
Kino’s latest release, on blu ray and DVD, is "The Spiral Staircase:" a consistently brilliant film that offers elements of film noir, horror, and melodrama that are blended perfectly. This is a suspense film that might have inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s later post-war cinema, especially films like “Psycho” (1960) and “Frenzy” (1972). Another Hitchock connection is that the original book from which “Spiral Staircase” is derived was written by Ethel Lina White, who also penned “The Wheel Spins,” which was the original inspiration for Hitchock’s “The Lady Vanishes” (1937)
At the time he helmed “The Spiral Staircase,” Robert Siodmak had already directed such films as “Son of Dracula” (1943), and “Cobra Woman” (1944) so when he moved into film noir, his background in horror was part of his cinematic vision. He moved away from this concept with later films like “Cry of the City” (1948), and “Criss Cross” (1949). But “The Spiral Staircase” uses elements of horror to enhance its narrative. He cuts from close-ups to medium shots that best affect each scene.
The artistry of the opening scenes nicely establish director Robert Siodmak’s vision. After an establishing shot that displays a quaint small town circa 1916, the director then cuts to a hand-cranked projector showing the D.W. Griffith silent “The Sands of Dee” (1912), its melodrama especially captivating Helen, who sits in the audience enthralled with the visuals while others are passively relaxing. The shots of Mae Marsh, Bobby Harron, and Charles Hill Mailes, including the emotional climactic scene where Mae’s lifeless body is carried from the sea onto the beach, resonate with the young moviegoer.
As the audience watches this film, a disabled woman is murdered in one of the upstairs rooms. The murderer is shown by a close-up of his eye, the director then cutting to his point of view. When the murder is discovered, Helen is told to hurry home so that she gets there before dark. We soon realize that Helen is a mute. We also soon realize that this killer preys on women with disabilities and has targeted Helen.
Helen is caring for an elderly bedridden woman, Mrs. Warren, who lives in a mansion with her son, stepson, a housekeeper and her husband, a nurse, and Blanche, a secretary who is having an affair with the Warren son. Mrs. Warren is creepily aware of the murders taking place from her sick bed, adding further intrigue.
Detailing the killings and discoveries in a suspense film such as this would be spoilers, so the review will dispense with such details. We can, however, credit the fine acting of George Brent as the stepson, Gordon Oliver as the son, Rhonda Fleming as Blanche, the Oscar nominated Ethel Barrymore as Mrs. Warren, and, in a career-defining performance, Dorothy McGuire as the mute Helen.
The cinematography by Nicholas Musuraca, a real veteran of RKO features (the studio that produced this film) enhances both the psychological horror elements and the film noir trappings of this production. The screenplay adaption by Mel Dinelli is his first, later films including “The Window” (1949) and “Beware My Lovely” (1952), based on his own play.
Kino’s blu ray release is remastered in high definition from a 4K scan of the restored fine-grain master. It offers a clarity and sharpness that further enhances its visual presentation. Special Features include a 1945 radio broadcast, some trailers, and audio commentary by Imogen Sara Smith. Ms. Smith, a film historian and critic who specializes in film noir, offers one of the finest commentaries that can be found in classic cinema. She presents us with both historical details and aesthetic observations, making the experience as informative as it is entertaining. Her book on film noir, "In Lonely Places," is highly recommended.
“The Spiral Staircase” is a film that belongs in any library, research center, or personal collection that wants to be comprehensive. It is a brilliantly produced noir horror that expertly offers elements of each genre with seamless cohesion.
The blu ray is available at this link: The Spiral Staircase