The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (1960) Film Review

DIRECTOR: Delbert Mann

BOTTOM LINE:

Robert Eyer has a few lovely moments as Sonny Flood the little gay boy who can’t wait to show his uncle Morris (Frank Overton) his picture book of silent movie stars in gay playwright William Inge’s autobiographical play “The Dark at the Top of the Stairs”. This beautiful adaptation, directed by Delbert Mann in his interim period between Paddy Chayefsky’s slice-of-life realism and Doris Day’s comedy-romance from a great script by Harriet Frank Jr. and Irving Ravetch boasts superb performances by Robert Preston as his dad Rubin, Dorothy McGuire as his mom Cora, Shirley Knight as his sister Reenie, Eve Arden as his aunt Lotte and above all, Angela Lansbury as Mavis Pruitt, the owner of the local beauty salon who has always loved Rubin.

POST TITLE:  55 Queer Films Made Under the Hays Code (1934-1967) (Part 2)

CATEGORY: My Favorites
SUBCATEGORY: Queer Film

STREAMING: “The Dark at the Top of the Stairs” is unavailable for streaming. However, the DVD can be purchased at Amazon.