The Spiral Staircase (1946)

☆ ☆ ☆ ½

The Spiral Staircase (1946) – R. Siodmak

Version 1:  A high water mark for the "woman in peril" genre (with all of its flaws) that is basically just a fulfilled opportunity to try to scare viewers. A serial killer is on the loose, hunting women with disabilities of some kind, and he's apparently made it to the sprawling dark mansion in which Helen (Dorothy McGuire), who has been mute since childhood, is working as a maid for invalid Ethel Barrymore. Sumptuous in its décor and art direction and expert in its camerawork, Robert Siodmak (The Killers, Phantom Lady) uses his noir skills to great spooky effect. Anyone could be the killer (of course) but the pay-off is sort of ho-hum.

Version 2:  A serial killer menaces women with disabilities in a Gothic New England town in the early 20^th century in this noirish tale.  Dorothy McGuire, mute since a childhood trauma, is handmaid to Mrs. Warren (Ethel Barrymore), an seemingly insufferable invalid who lives with her son, Steven (an irresponsible rascal just back from Europe) and her stepson, Albert (a Professor who has taken on the burden of caring for his stepmother after his father’s death).  Early in the film, it is made clear that the killer has entered the house, now besieged by a terrible storm, and director Robert Siodmak takes the opportunity to introduce us to a number of suspects, including Mr Oates (Rhys Williams) and Dr Parry (Kent Smith), the latter also a possible love interest for Helen (McGuire).  The cast is rounded out by Rhonda Fleming, Elsa Lancaster, and Sara Allgood who work for the family in various capacities.  As I said, it was a dark and stormy night.  McGuire can’t scream.  The killer strikes.  Who will be his next victim?  The conclusion sees a number of characters running up and down the spiral staircase which leads to the basement.  Although my synopsis may make this seem formulaic, the result is not anything like the various mystery serials that were popular in the day (which often say the suspects rounded up into a room where the detective announced the killer).  Instead, things are moodier, more visually interesting, darker, and hard (but not impossible) to predict.