The Dark Stairway
The Dark Stairway

Movie spotlight

The Dark Stairway

1938
Movie
73 min
English

“Professional jealousy over the discovery of a formula for an anaesthetic leads to murder in a hospital.” - BFI.

Insights

IMDb6.1/10
Director: William NighGenres: Mystery, Thriller

Plot Summary

A debonair detective investigates a series of mysterious deaths linked to a secluded mansion. As he delves deeper, he uncovers a tangled web of greed, betrayal, and a sinister plot orchestrated from within the darkened halls. The investigation leads him through a perilous journey, facing danger at every turn as the killer attempts to silence him permanently.

Critical Reception

The Dark Stairway was a moderately received B-movie mystery, appreciated for its atmospheric suspense and a decent performance from its lead. While not groundbreaking, it offered a satisfactory whodunit for audiences of the era, though some critics noted its predictable plot elements.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its atmospheric tension and classic mystery tropes.

  • Evelyn Brent delivers a solid performance that anchors the film.

  • Considered a competent, if unremarkable, entry in the mystery genre of the late 1930s.

Google audience: Audience reception information is not readily available for this film.

Fun Fact

The film was shot on a tight budget and schedule, typical for many B-movies produced during the Golden Age of Hollywood.

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