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Actors: Dorothy McGuire, George Brent, Ethel Barrymore, Kent Smith, Elsa Lanchester, Rhonda Fleming
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Spiral Staircase (1945) |
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THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE is a movie directed by Robert Siodmak in 1945. Ethel Barrymore earned a nomination for the Academy Award in the "Best Actress in a Supporting Role" category.
A serial killer is murdering young women suffering from an "affliction". Haunting scenes present his subjective point of view when he crosses the path of women with physical disabilities. Mute Helen Capel who stays in the Warren mansion is warned by the dying Mrs. Capel : she must leave the house at once because she's menaced. But the night is long and the mad man is already in the house.
--Daniel Staebler, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of The Spiral Staircase (1945) |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie
Actual chase scenes or violence - 30%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 10%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 60%
Time/Era of Movie:
- 1900-1920's
Crime & Police Story?
Yes
Crime story:
- hunted by killer/stalker
If this is a criminal POV story...
- killing innocent people
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Age:
- 20's-30's
Hair style
- medium/shoulderlgn, curly (woman)
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- soggy whimpering jelly muffin
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- missing body parts/abilities
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair style
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn, straight
How much in movie?
- 20%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Eccentric:
Yes
- mentally ill
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 80%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Setting
United States
Yes
Forest?
Yes
Misc setting
- resort/hotel
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- non-gory references to death/punishment
Movie makes you feel...
- excited
How many deaths in film?
- 3-4
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- kissing
Kind of violence:
- guns
Unusual forms of death
- asphyxiation
- perforation--bullets
Check here if B&W
Yes
If Soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Orchestra/classical
Is this movie based on a
- book
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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