# Stairs in film **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [December 26, 2016, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636 "2016-12-26T06:27:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2016, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636/61 "2016-12-30T14:16:57Z")
My first thought was the stair-car from _Arrested Development_, I’m either ashamed or proud to admit - I haven’t decided which. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636/62 "2016-12-30T15:48:41Z")
There’s [this scene](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRDl5_-wJ0Y) in Robocop, in which it is revealed that the designers of the original model hadn’t considered stairs. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636/63 "2016-12-30T16:07:15Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > My first thought was the stair-car from _Arrested Development_, I’m either ashamed or proud to admit - I haven’t decided which. If I’m envious of such a recollection, then you should be prouder than Tobias after getting another treatment for his concerning hair loss. Near the end of _Straw Dogs_ Dustin Hoffman is pinned on the stairs but some dude’s foot before he (dude) is rifled down by Susan George. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2016, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636/64 "2016-12-30T20:21:01Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > I think you mean “IED”. An IUD would have ruined the whole story. Hah! Yes. I need a real keyboard back ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636/65 "2016-12-31T00:28:14Z")
In _Titanic_, the iconic scene at the end where old Rose dies in her sleep and is back on the ship, where a young Jack waits for her at the top of the sweeping staircase. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636/66 "2016-12-31T00:55:45Z")
I seem to recall a scene from _Canadian Bacon_ that involved a whole lot of stairs (escaliers). ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636/67 "2016-12-31T01:10:55Z")
One of my favorite horror movies: [The Changeling](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080516/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1). Trish Van Devere goes up the stairs and you just _know_ bad shit is gonna happen to her. When she gets to the third flight and says, “John? I don’t want to come up there”, a half dozen people in the audience shouted “THEN DON’T!”. And sure enough, [bad shit happened.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3GdPWzKfiE) ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636/68 "2016-12-31T01:30:48Z")
Nightmare on Elm Street [gooey stairs scene](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DnXo1AwbPj5Q&ved=0ahUKEwiMisKao53RAhXPciYKHaTeCrwQtwIIGjAA&usg=AFQjCNHSaAMhsOKk1zk-cgEizTEv8CiUUA) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2016, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636/69 "2016-12-31T05:14:57Z")
_Psycho_ - The detective played by Martin Balsam slowly ascends the main staircase in the spooky old Bates mansion. It does not go well for him. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636/70 "2017-01-01T18:30:27Z")
After trying to crush Talking Tina’s head in a vise grip and then trying to blow torch and then radial arm-saw her head off (all unsuccessfully) a flustered Telly Savalas, in a _Twilight Zone_ episode, comes to his end by tripping over her strategically-placed self on the top stair, as he tumbles down the stairs to his death. _Nice post script when his wife happens upon the scene, and when she picks up the doll, it says, "My name’s Talking Tina…_(then slowly opens its eyes)\*…and you better be _nice_ to me." ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2017, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636/71 "2017-01-02T00:30:24Z")
A very frightening scene on a spiral staircase in The Haunting (the original Robert Wise version). I was terrified of spiral staircases for years after seeing that movie. ---
**Author:** ![HyacinthBucket](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hyacinthbucket/32/3063_2.png) [@HyacinthBucket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HyacinthBucket)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2017, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636/72 "2017-01-02T05:53:53Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > … Another great movie is Arsenic and Old Lace, I’m not sure the stairs themselves figure into the movie in quite the way you’re looking for, but most of the movie is in a living room, but most of the discussion is about what’s going on the basement and all the characters go up and down the basement stairs many times…come to think of it, they go up to the second floor as well, via an open staircase, so there’s that… > > . What about the running joke that’s such an important part of the plot - crazy Uncle Teddy who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt and re-enacts the Rough Riders’ charge up San Juan Hill every time he goes up those stairs: no stairs = no Teddy Roosevelt = no Happydale = no plot :D ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2017, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636/73 "2017-01-02T05:59:48Z")
There’s that scene in\* Scarface\*… ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2017, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636/74 "2017-01-02T06:11:27Z")
The play a pretty important role in _The People Under The Stairs_. ---
**Author:** ![Mavic\_Chen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mavic\_Chen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mavic_Chen)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636/75 "2017-01-03T10:13:53Z")
Too many horror films to mention - you know, creeping down some scary stairs into the basement… Best is probably the basement stairs from Evil Deads 1 and 2 where Ash climbs down slowly only to have his ankles grabbed by a demon hiding behind them… ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2017, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636/76 "2017-01-03T15:32:30Z")
If we can open this thread up to books with prominent use of stairs, then I submit [House of Stairs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Stairs_(Sleator_novel)), a surreal, mid-70s “teen” novel. It was one of those post-60s youth novels that were “relevant” and “spoke to the younger generation” and all those other 70s-era buzzwords. Apparently, a movie version was in the works, but is in limbo currently. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2026, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636/77 "2026-02-23T03:29:29Z")
Bumped. Guerrilla filmmaking on those famous stairs for _Rocky_: > **['Rocky's' Most Famous Scene Was Totally Unscripted—And Filmed Without a...](https://www.aol.com/articles/rockys-most-famous-scene-totally-134218811.html)** > > The crew set up the scene quickly to avoid the police. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2026, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636/78 "2026-02-23T06:55:45Z")
The iconic beautiful women and handsome men staircase scene is in The Great Ziegfield (1936). The circular staircase starts out completely draped over, then as it rotates, the drapery is gradually lifted, revealing all the women and men, all the way to the top where Virginia Grey sits, while Dennis Morgan sings “A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody,” and other songs are sung as well An abbreviated clip was also featured in the original That’s Entertainment (1974). I think it’s worth seeing the original 8+ minutes, we never see the first part unless you’re watching the whole original movie. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a decent original print. There’s also I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise in An American in Paris, where George Guetary sings and sort-of dances his way up and down a huge lighted staircase. Both of these are highlights of their respective movies, but they don’t really do much for the plot. In the second one, it does help show us what a big star Guetary’s character is going to be. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2026, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636/79 "2026-02-23T17:32:19Z")
In the original **Amityville Horror** , the family dog digs endlessly at the basement stairs and near the end, Brolin falls through the stairs into black ichor. **Lady in White** has Lukas Haas ascending a staircase in a haunted house when a specter flings open the door at the top and attacks him. And it would have been a lot scarier if the specter wasn’t so obviously Katherine Helmond; major letdown. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2026, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636/80 "2026-02-23T19:36:55Z")
I know Hitchcock was already mentioned a few times in this thread (almost a decade ago), but I just watched this StudioBinder video a few weeks ago: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/YdSvkJQG9eg/maxresdefault.jpg "A Simple Detail That Defines Hitchcock") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdSvkJQG9eg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stairs-in-film/775636.md?page=5)