The Spiral Staircase (1946)

A has-been rock star hosts horror films in his haunted mansion. Guest: horror writer Francesca Maria. Movie: “The Spiral Staircase” from 1946. Episode 08-407 Air Date: 10-05-2024 Movie Description Set in 1906 Vermont, The Spiral Staircase (1946) follows a mute young woman who works as a live-in companion at a rural mansion. As a serial killer stalks the town, targeting women with disabilities, tension builds as she becomes the next likely victim. The film, starring Dorothy McGuire, George Brent, and Ethel Barrymore, is a suspenseful blend of psychological horror and film noir, praised for its chilling atmosphere and cinematography. Ethel Barrymore’s performance earned an Academy Award nomination, and the movie is considered a precursor to modern slasher films. Cast Dorothy McGuire as Helen George Brent as Professor Albert Warren Ethel Barrymore as Mrs. Warren Kent Smith as Dr. Parry Gordon Oliver as Steven Warren Rhonda Fleming as Blanche Elsa Lanchester as Mrs. Oa