Considered one of the great all-time Hollywood chillers, the 1946 horror film which stars Dorothy McGuire, George Brent, and Ethel Barrymore is "The Spiral Staircase". Here the plot concerns a murderer who is targeting disabled young women in a New England town in the USA. Helen (Dorothy McGuire, "Gentleman’s Agreement") is a mute servant in a Gothic mansion. She is terrified that she's next.

Mrs. Warren (Ethel Barrymore, "Deadline – U.S.A.") is an invalid, bullying mistress of the house. Warren warns Helen to leave at once, rather than rely on her weak son and stepson for protection. But, even as Helen is packing her things, she suspects she may be too late and the murderer is closer than she ever imagined.

"The Spiral Staircase" is a terrifying and suspenseful thriller which was produced by David O. Selznick ("Duel in the Sun") and directed by Robert Siodmak ("Cry of the City"). The film was shot by Nicholas Musuraca ("Out of the Past"). The screenplay was written by Mel Dinelli ("The Reckless Moment") and it was based on a novel by Ethel Lina White ("The Lady Vanishes"). The film's cast also includes Kent Smith ("The Night Stalker"), Rhonda Fleming ("Those Redheads from Seattle"), Elsa Lanchester ("Witness for the Prosecution"), Sara Allgood ("The Lodger"), Rhys Williams ("The Farmer’s Daughter"), and James Bell ("I Walked with a Zombie").

Ethel Barrymore received a supporting actress Oscar nomination. The film received distinction for having this superb cast.

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