Horror Hunks: John Phillip Law in The Spiral Staircase

'A mute woman's unspeakable terror!'

Thanks again to Mario Cantone, who along with Ben Mankiewicz,  co-hosts Monday's Creepy Cinema on TCM, I discovered yet another film to love, and another actor from the 70's to lust after.  The hunk in question this time, is John Phillip Law.  Law had a long career in Hollywood beginning the 50's all the way through to the 2010's. 

Law appeared in close 70 films, both Foreign and American based. Some his most well known roles include; The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, The Golden Voyage of Sinbad and in the role of Pygar in 1968's Barbarella.  It was actually Barbareela star Jane Fonda who recommend Law to co-star with her in the film.

In 1975's The Spinal Staircase we're introduced to Helen, (Jacqueline Bisset).  Helen has been incapable of speech since seeing her husband die.  Helen ends up at her elderly, invalid grandmother's old mansion on, of course, a dark and very stormy night.

The Spiral Staircase

At the mansion, she meets her uncle Dr. Joe Sherman, a respected psychiatrist played by actor Christopher Plummer.  There are a few other interesting characters thrown in, including her grandmother's no-nonsense nurse played by  Elaine Stritch.  Both Plummer and Stritch are great in their roles, as is Mildred Dunnock who places the grandmother.

We also meet Steven, Joe's younger brother who seems to be estranged from his family.  Steven is played by John Phillip Law..  Steven becomes the prime suspect when a deranged serial killer starts murdering members of the household staff, starting with those who are disabled.

The movie is a bit campy, and given Bisset cannot speak, she mostly runs in terror, with her screams not heard, just seen as gasps of breath by the audience.  Despite the contrived set up, I was drawn into the story, and the terror of being in mansion, during a huge storm, with a killer on the loose.  This film was first made in 1946, and I've read that version is much better.  I plan to check it out when time allows.

Barbarella (1968)

There was no nudity in The Spiral Staircase, but there was a shower scene that with a wet Law that had me wanting to see more.  After seeing some of his publicity shots for Barbarella, I was hoping he might have some nude scenes on his resume....

An initial search didn't really come up with much, a few 'quick or you'll miss them' butt scenes, but I deeper dive, especially into work in Foreign films, did lead to an interesting find, and an interesting full frontal.  Check out my Actors & Skin feature on Law on the next page HERE: & HERE: