The Dark at the Top of the Stairs

October. 08,1960      NR
Rating:
7.2
Trailer Synopsis Cast

In Oklahoma in the 1920s, Rubin Flood loses his job as a traveling salesman when the company goes bankrupt. This adds to his worries at home. His wife Cora is frigid because of trying to make ends meet. His teenage daughter Reenie is afraid of going out on dates, but eventually makes friends with a troubled Jewish boy Sammy Golden, and his son is a mama's boy. He finally storms out of the house when Cora falsely accuses him of having an affair with Mavis Pruitt.

Robert Preston as  Rubin Flood
Dorothy McGuire as  Cora Flood
Eve Arden as  Lottie Lacey
Angela Lansbury as  Mavis Pruitt
Shirley Knight as  Reenie Flood
Lee Kinsolving as  Sammy Golden
Frank Overton as  Morris Lacey
Mary Patton as  Peg Ralston
Addison Richards as  Harris
Emerson Treacy as  George, the banker

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Reviews

Lovesusti
1960/10/08

The Worst Film Ever

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MoPoshy
1960/10/09

Absolutely brilliant

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Curapedi
1960/10/10

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

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Paynbob
1960/10/11

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

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R-Mac
1960/10/12

I just want to comment on how refreshing it is to see a movie about sex and the rather twisted morals of the 50's and 60's. It is like Meet the Beaver meets Ice Storm.

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MWATSON16
1960/10/13

I'm known as a soft touch when it comes to the films I enjoy but this movie also touched and affected my two teenage sons who accidentally were caught up in it while I was watching it. It is very poignant especially the religious prejudice and the pain & destruction it caused. This is a tasteful story of first love, love lost and love re-discovered. The characters are wonderful. I hope to have an opportunity to tape it or even better to purchase it.

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lew-11
1960/10/14

Angela tends to play baddies - and she is good at it. In the Manchurian Candidate she was a black widow spider and praying mantis combined - with lipstick. In this movie, she is young and plump and wholesome and pretty - and in one scene with Robert Preston where they share a single kiss, she is more desirable than all the millions of boobs on the Internet.

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rickert
1960/10/15

One of the most simple yet moving of William Inge's plays is presented here with some of the finest American actors to grace the screen. This is American cinema at its greatest. Anything else I could say would sound even more trite. If you can find this film (it's never been released on video as far as I know) give it a try. I was able to tape it off of Encore once, and I am forever grateful that they aired it.

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