THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE (1946). Great sets and genuinely atmospheric camerawork-particularly shadows-still can't save this listless melodrama of a recently mute servant girl being targeted by a Serial killer dispatching "Less than Perfect" women. Lots of annoying characters-particularly Kent Smith and Ethel Barrymore- don't help either and surprised the poor servant girl didn't collapse of exaustion due to all the piddling errands she is sent on. As usual, Elsa Lanchester gets the best lines. She is the best part of this and an early performance by Rhonda Fleming who was incredibly babealicious even back then
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