In a remake of the 1940s film, Helen has been incapable of speech since seeing her husband die - will she become the target of a deranged serial killer targeting disabled people?In a remake of the 1940s film, Helen has been incapable of speech since seeing her husband die - will she become the target of a deranged serial killer targeting disabled people?In a remake of the 1940s film, Helen has been incapable of speech since seeing her husband die - will she become the target of a deranged serial killer targeting disabled people?
- Steven
- (as John Philip Law)
- Visitor
- (uncredited)
- Police Photographer
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThird of four versions of "The Spiral Staircase." The first was The Spiral Staircase (1946), the second was The Spiral Staircase (1961), made for television, and the fourth was The Spiral Staircase (2000), also for television.
- GoofsAll entries contain spoilers
- Quotes
Blanche: Do you know that we have four hundred and eighty-five applications for next year's course already?
Dr. Sherman: You know, I swear if I propose to you, you'd file it under "applications".
Blanche: [pulling a book from the shelf and clearing her throat before she starts to read aloud] On page eighteen, chapter three, rule four: "Many a good secretary has married her boss. No good boss has ever married his secretary." Quote, unquote.
Dr. Sherman: [pointing to the now closed book in her hands] I wrote that before you came in.
Blanche: Why don't we go have a drink to that.
- ConnectionsRemade as The Spiral Staircase (2000)
"The Spiral Staircase" is a remake of the sublime 1946 suspense classic with the same name. Or maybe it's a completely separate adaptation of the same source novel by Ethel Lina White, I'm not really sure of that. Fact remains that, of the two films, this 1976 version is definitely the weakest link, and a disappointingly tame 70s thriller altogether. The opening sequences is more than promising, though. A blind but stylish blond woman is rudely executed in a tunnel whilst walking her guidance dog. We hear from the police she's already the fifth victim of a sadist serial killer who exclusively targets disabled women. At this point, I was still anticipating a phenomenal thriller. Why shouldn't I? Everything seemed to be there, including a great cast (Jacqueline Bisset, Christopher Plummer, John Philip Law, Sam Wanamaker, the ravishing Gayle Hunnicutt), a more than talented director (Peter Collinson of "The Italian Job", "Open Season" and "Straight on till Morning"), a shivers-guaranteed premise, terrific settings and conditions (stormy night, big mansion full of suspects) ...
So then, what went wrong? I honestly don't know, in fact. What follows after the good intro is a long and dull hour without any action, suspense or emotion whatsoever. When the bodies do eventually start piling up, the murders are tame, bloodless and working towards a predictable finale.
- How long is The Spiral Staircase?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Das Geheimnis der Wendeltreppe
- Filming locations
- Bracknell, Berkshire, England, UK(location)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 29 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.78 : 1