The Spiral Staircase 49 years old

A demented killer stalks the streets, preying on young, handicapped women. Where will he strike next? Who will be the next victim? The answers might surprise you…because there's always another twist to The Spiral Staircase. Jacqueline Bisset and Christopher Plummer headline this fear-choked modernization of the famed 1946 Gothic shocker. Bisset is Helen, a mute woman who stops overnight at her family’s remote country mansion where Helen’s Uncle Sherman (Plummer) runs a respected psychological institute. And there, an unseen eye stares out at Helen from the shadows. When a storm plunges the house into darkness, the terror erupts and Helen’s horror has only just begun. So have the convoluted steps leading to the suspense-filled end of The Spiral Staircase.

Credits

Jacqueline Bisset as Helen Mallory

Christopher Plummer as Dr. Joe Sherman

Sam Wanamaker as Lt. Fields

Mildred Dunnock as Mrs. Sherman

Gayle Hunnicutt as Blanche

John Phillip Law as Steven Sherman (as John Philip Law)

The Spiral Staircase Cast

Name	Character
Jacqueline Bisset She was 30, now 79 years old	as Helen Mallory
Christopher Plummer He was 45, now 94 years old	as Dr. Joe Sherman
Sam Wanamaker He was 55, 74 years old when he died	as Lt. Fields
Mildred Dunnock She was 74, 90 years old when she died	as Mrs. Sherman
Gayle Hunnicutt She was 31, now 81 years old	as Blanche
John Phillip Law He was 37, 70 years old when he died	as Steven Sherman (as John Philip Law)
Elaine Stritch She was 49, 89 years old when she died	as Nurse

The Spiral Staircase Crew

Name	Department
Paul Engelen as Makeup Artist. He was 25 (now 74) years old	Costume & Make-Up
Raymond Poulton as Editor. He was 58 (75) years old when He died	Editing
Chris Bryant as Screenplay. He was 13 (now 62) years old	Writing
Ethel Lina White as Novel. She was 99 (68) years old when She died	Writing
Bert Batt as Assistant Director. He was 45 (81) years old when He died	Directing
Rose Tobias Shaw as Casting. She was 55 (96) years old when She died	Production
Peter Collinson as Director. He was 281 (286) years old when He died	Directing
Eric Allwright as Makeup Artist.	Costume & Make-Up
Mel Dinelli as Original Film Writer. He was 62 (79) years old when He died	Writing
Ken Hodges as Cinematography. He was 9 (now 58) years old	Crew
Josef Shaftel as Executive Producer. He was 56 (77) years old when He died	Production
Allan Scott as Screenplay. He was 68 (88) years old when He died	Writing
Tom Sachs as Associate Producer. He was 8 (now 57) years old	Production
David Lindup as Music. He was 46 (63) years old when He died	Sound

The Spiral Staircase (49 years)

Release day: Friday, January 31, 1975
Runtime: 86 minutes