The Dark Stairway
Encyclopedia
The Dark Stairway is a 1938 British crime film, directed by Arthur B. Woods
and starring Hugh Williams
, Chili Bouchier
and Garry Marsh
.
The film was a quota quickie production, based on the 1931 novel From This Dark Stairway by Mignon G. Eberhart
. In the film, professional jealousy and rivalry erupts in a hospital over the discovery of a revolutionary new formula for anaesthetic, leading to murder. The Dark Stairway is now classed as a lost film
.
Arthur B. Woods
Arthur Bickerstaffe Woods was an English film director with 27 credits between 1933 and 1940. Woods' films were mainly quota quickies but were diverse in style, from light comedy and musicals to dark crime thrillers. His most acclaimed film is 1938's They Drive by Night...
and starring Hugh Williams
Hugh Williams
Hugh Williams was an English actor and dramatist of Welsh descent.-Personal life:...
, Chili Bouchier
Chili Bouchier
Chili Bouchier , later known as Dorothy Bouchier, was a British film actress who achieved success during the silent film era, and went on to many screen appearances with the advent of sound films, before progressing to theatre later in her career.She made her first appearance as a child dancer at a...
and Garry Marsh
Garry Marsh
Garry Marsh was a British film actor. Marsh began acting on the stage at the age of fifteen. He started off in films as a leading man but later became a character actor playing self-important roles.-Filmography:* Long Odds...
.
The film was a quota quickie production, based on the 1931 novel From This Dark Stairway by Mignon G. Eberhart
Mignon G. Eberhart
Mignon Good Eberhart was an American author of mystery novels. She had one of the longest careers among major American mystery writers.-Biography:...
. In the film, professional jealousy and rivalry erupts in a hospital over the discovery of a revolutionary new formula for anaesthetic, leading to murder. The Dark Stairway is now classed as a lost film
Lost film
A lost film is a feature film or short film that is no longer known to exist in studio archives, private collections or public archives such as the Library of Congress, where at least one copy of all American films are deposited and catalogued for copyright reasons...
.
Cast
- Hugh WilliamsHugh WilliamsHugh Williams was an English actor and dramatist of Welsh descent.-Personal life:...
as Dr. Thurlow - Chili BouchierChili BouchierChili Bouchier , later known as Dorothy Bouchier, was a British film actress who achieved success during the silent film era, and went on to many screen appearances with the advent of sound films, before progressing to theatre later in her career.She made her first appearance as a child dancer at a...
as Betty Trimmer - Garry MarshGarry MarshGarry Marsh was a British film actor. Marsh began acting on the stage at the age of fifteen. He started off in films as a leading man but later became a character actor playing self-important roles.-Filmography:* Long Odds...
as Dr. Mortimer - Reginald PurdellReginald PurdellReginald Purdell was an English actor and screenwriter who appeared in over 40 films between 1930 and 1951...
as Askew - Lesley BrookLesley Brook-Selected filmography:* The Vulture * The Man Who Made Diamonds * The Viper * The Dark Stairway * The Nursemaid Who Disappeared * The Bells Go Down * When We Are Married...
as Mary Cresswell - Aubrey Pollock as Dr. Cresswell
- Glen Alyn as Isabel Simmonds
- John Carol as Merridew
- Robert Rendel as Dr. Fletcher
External links
- The Dark Stairway at BFI Film & TV Database