The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (1960)
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- Approved
- 2h 4min
- Drama
- 08 Oct 1960 (USA)
- Movie
In Oklahoma in the 1920s, Rubin Flood (Robert Preston) loses his job as a travelling salesman when the company goes bankrupt. This adds to his worries at home. His wife Cora (Dorothy McGuire) is frigid because of trying to make ends meet....
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Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 6 nominations.
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Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Robert Preston | ... |
Rubin Flood
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| Dorothy McGuire | ... |
Cora Flood
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| Eve Arden | ... |
Lottie Lacey
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| Angela Lansbury | ... |
Mavis Pruitt
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| Shirley Knight | ... |
Reenie Flood
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| Lee Kinsolving | ... |
Sammy Golden
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| Frank Overton | ... |
Morris Lacey
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Robert Eyer | ... |
Sonny Flood
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| Penney Parker | ... |
Flirt Conroy
(as Penny Parker)
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| Ken Lynch | ... |
Harry Ralston
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Bobby Beakman | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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| Paul Birch | ... |
Jonah Mills (uncredited)
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Helen Brown | ... |
Mrs. Haycox (uncredited)
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Michael Chain | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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| Paul Comi | ... |
Jenkins (uncredited)
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John Elman | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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| Ben Erway | ... |
Joseph Moody (uncredited)
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Butch Hengen | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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Stoddard W. Kerby | ... |
Cadet (uncredited)
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Jean Paul King | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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| Peg La Centra | ... |
Edna Harper (uncredited)
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| Nelson Leigh | ... |
Ed Peabody (uncredited)
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Mary Patton | ... |
Mrs. Ralston (uncredited)
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| Addison Richards | ... |
Harris (uncredited)
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| Charles Seel | ... |
Percy Weems (uncredited)
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| Emerson Treacy | ... |
George Williams (uncredited)
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| Helen Wallace | ... |
Lydia Harper (uncredited)
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Robin Warga | ... |
Harold (uncredited)
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Dennis Whitcomb | ... |
Punky Givens (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Delbert Mann | ||
Written by
| Harriet Frank Jr. | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Irving Ravetch | ... | (screenplay) |
| William Inge | ... | (based on the play by) |
Produced by
| Michael Garrison | ... | producer |
Music by
| Max Steiner | ||
Cinematography by
| Harry Stradling Sr. | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Folmar Blangsted | ... | film editor |
Art Direction by
| Leo K. Kuter | ||
Set Decoration by
| George James Hopkins | ||
Costume Design by
| Marjorie Best | ... | (costumes designed by) |
Makeup Department
| Gordon Bau | ... | makeup supervisor |
| Margaret Donovan | ... | hairdresser (uncredited) |
| Frank Prehoda | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Russell Llewellyn | ... | assistant director |
| John Gilbert Kissel | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Robert Turner | ... | props (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Stanley Jones | ... | sound |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Frank Flanagan | ... | gaffer (uncredited) |
| Charles Harris | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| George Gordon Nogle | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Norma Brown | ... | wardrobe (uncredited) |
| Ted Schultz | ... | wardrobe (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Murray Cutter | ... | orchestrator |
Script and Continuity Department
| Meta Rebner | ... | script supervisor (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Elia Kazan | ... | produced on the stage by |
| Arnold Saint Subber | ... | produced on the stage by (as Saint-Subber) |
| Norman Stuart | ... | dialogue supervisor |
| Ted Ashton | ... | unit publicist (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Warner Bros. (presents)
Distributors
- Warner Bros. (1960) (United States) (theatrical)
- Warner-Pathé Distributors (1960) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1961) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1961) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Epoca (Argentina) (VHS)
- Warner Bros. Domestic Pay TV / Cable and Network Features (United States) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
In Oklahoma in the 1920s, Rubin Flood (Robert Preston) loses his job as a travelling salesman when the company goes bankrupt. This adds to his worries at home. His wife Cora (Dorothy McGuire) is frigid because of trying to make ends meet. His teenage daughter Reenie (Shirley Knight) is afraid of going out on dates, but eventually makes friends with a troubled Jewish boy Sammy Golden (Lee Kinsolving), 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 (Dame Angela Lansbury). Written by Will Gilbert |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Everytime a woman turns her face away because she's tired or unwilling - there's someone waiting like me! See more » |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | When asked which one of her movies stands out to her, Dame Angela Lansbury cited this movie, saying, "That's one I felt we did a good job with, one that didn't get the attention it deserved." See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Angela Lansbury: A Balancing Act (1998). See more » |
| Soundtracks | The Dark At The Top Of The Stairs See more » |
| Quotes |
Executive:
We sell new machinery. What do you know about drilling equipment for oil fields? Rubin Flood: Not a thing. Executive: Then why should we hire you? Rubin Flood: You chew tobacco, mister? Executive: I beg your pardon! Rubin Flood: You talk crops and weather? You know who's had a baby lately? You know who goes to church and who don't? Who likes corn liquor and who likes store liquor? Who's a Republican, who's a Democrat? Executive: Our methods are a little more modern than that. Rubin Flood: Well, I'm telling you that the people out here are farmers, no matter how much oil they got in their land. You want to come out of this territory with a profit? You'd be better off taking that diamond stickpin out of your tie and putting a straw hat on the back of your head and a chaw in your cheek! You're gonna have to hunker down and talk business with a man who's cleaning out his pigsty. That's where a lot of sales are made... and it can't be done in a New York suit! See more » |