The Spiral Staircase (DVD, 2005)

Someone is murdering women with defects in a 1910 New England town. We see the insane person's eye close-up everytime there is a murder, but we have no idea who it is is. Along comes a thunderstorm, a very sick elderly matriarch Mrs. Warren played by Ethel Barrymore, a huge mansion with servants, and lighting only by candles; now we have all the ingredients for a scary movie.

The movie centers around Helen (Dorothy McGuire) in a movie that many people consider her best performance ever, a mute companion and caregiver to Mrs. Warren. Mrs. Warren prefers Helen to her nurse (Sara Algood), but she urges Helen to leave the town when it is learned that the serial killer is after women with defects. Mrs. Warren's doctor, Doctor Parry (Kent Smith) is going to pick up Helen after he goes to a sick person's home but is delayed there.

In the meantime, we meet the various members of the household. Mrs. Warren has a stepson, Albert Warren (George Brent), and a biological son, Stephen Warren (Gordon Oliver). Since Stephen is a playboy and travels extensively, the murders always start when he is at home. Allbert has a secretary Blanche (Rhonda Fleming in a role where you won't recognize her), and the cook is played by Elsa Lanchester. This becomes the list of suspects as in a Clue game.

This movie was nominated in 1946 for one Academy Award--Best Supporting Actress, Ethel Barrymore. She did not win.

Leonard Maltin, famous critic, gives this movie 3.5 out of 4 stars and advises that it not be viewed alone. However, to me the scariest part of the murders is the evil close-up of the eye that we see everytime a murder is about to occur.

As a collector of older movies in film format, the new DVD and projection technology makes it a lot more affordable to have theatre quality motion picture prints on my theatre size screen with pretty much the same quality if not sometimes better than it is with film. The motion picture "Spiral Staircase", (1946), is one of Dore Schary's first "Message films" of which he received a lot of criticism on from some in the industry at the time.
Spiral Staircase as well is just a great old murder mystery of the classic style that takes place mostly at night in a big old victorian mansion with a thunder storm going on outside the whole time. It is a classic old formula which by todays standards may seem dated to some but is a refreshing change for me. And --- As usual Ethel Barrymore gives a great performance all throughout, but especially the ending. Very dramatic ending.
As a quality item on ebay this is first rate. Especially since a lot of these old titles are not easily available in most stores. A lot of these older classics are available on ebay from 1stchoicedvd also known as deep discount video. LLC and other good ebay sellers. ------ Dave.

I have forgotten what grand movie sets they used to have - -great plot and already watched this movie a dozen times in the last month!

If you like thrillers, this is certainly one for you. It is absolutely riveting. I bought it because I really enjoyed watching Dorothy McGuire in a Tree Grows in Brooklyn and the reviews of this one were excellent. It lived up to the reviews and then some.

This is one of my all time favorite older movies,I saw it in the theater many
years ago,I have it on VHS but wanted it on DVD incase something happens to my
VHS player, I can still view it.Was suprised to find it at all,so many of the older movies are'nt available to purchase.Thanks a bunch,I am extremely pleased.

The DVD was fine...However it took over 3 weeks to arrive and it was only a few states away...I was emaild that it should arrive around the 12th of the month but it did't get here until like the 27th of the month... The DVD it self was fine but for a minute I thought I had lost my money on this deal...

This is one of my favorite scary films of all times. I think a lot of the concepts here have been copied many, many times. This was a murder mystery before the blood and gore times. I don't want to give away spoilers so I'll just say that the story is terrific and Dorothy MacGuire did a great job. Any mystery fan should buy this one.

I love how quickly I received my DVD. I got it in time to take it with me to visit my friend. We both loved it. What a classic