The Spiral Staircase 🇺🇸 (Točité schodiště)

Robert Siodmak’s noir-rich filmography includes an adaptation of the British writer Ethel Lina White’s novel Some Must Watch, filmed under the title The Spiral Staircase. The film, starring Dorothy McGuire, falls into the category of so-called gothic noirs, centred on a female victim trapped in a lavish family mansion, where she uncovers its hidden secrets at the risk of her life. The protagonist of Siodmak’s film, the naive, fantasy-indulging mute Helen, works as a caretaker in a similar house, and during one stormy night she finds herself in danger as she falls into the sights of a murderous stalker who chooses handicapped girls as his victims. Nicholas Musurac’s camerawork and Roy Webb’s score make The Spiral Staircase very atmospheric. Plus, it’s one of those films where you can do the detective work. Although it may be clear to some from the beginning, the identity of the killer is revealed only by the ending.

Jana Bébarová

The film is screened in cooperation with the U.S. Embassy in Prague.