The Spiral Staircase (1945)

In director Robert Siodmak's suspenseful psychological drama:

• the atmosphere of terror and suspense in an old dark mansion - a raging storm outside, dark shadows, a spiral staircase, the killer's menacing eyes, gusts of wind, flickering candlelights, creaking doors - tormenting a young victimized mute Helen (Dorothy McGuire)
• the suspenseful climax of her scream at the moment of peril and speaking her first words since childhood with a phone call for a doctor ("1-8-9...Dr. Parry...Come...It's I, Helen") - the film's final line of dialogue