Watch The Dark at the Top of the Stairs For Free

Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

A Family trials and tribulations in '20s Oklahoma. Preston gives a poignant portrayal of a husband who chooses the warmth of another woman over his cold wife and familial duties. He tries to compensate for his own lack of self-esteem by cheating on his patient wife (Dorothy McGuire).Preston's "other woman" is played by Angela Lansbury. His daughter falls in love with a Jewish boy who commits suicide due to anti-Semitic pressure. Meanwhile, young Sonny must come to terms with the evil he imagines to exist in the dark at the top of the stairs. An emotional but wonderful movie and very well performed by Dorothy McGuire,Angela Lansbury and Robert Preston.

I saw this movie years ago and fell in love with it. I have hunted for the video but unfortunately there isn't one. I was lucky enough to find it playing on TV several years ago and taped it. Although I am happy to have what I do, I think it's a shame it is not available for the Robert Preston fans out there. It is a movie that was before its time. It hit on topics that were seldom talked about publicly in the time setting. Topics hinted at but not openly discussed like they do in this film. Robert Preston did a remarkable job as the character, Rubin Flood. Your heart went out to him because you could see through his strong, always looking for the positive, family provider roll. The fear and uncertainty he faced each day as the head of his family and his aging prospects at being successful in the eyes of his family. The film has a glorious mix of humor and drama. Unforgettable!!

Events take place in a small town atmosphere. Rubin (Robert Preston), being a family man, faces the bleak fact of losing his job when business takes a downturn, and at middle age it's not so easy for him to cope. His wife Cora (Dorothy McGuire) as well as their two children, each have needs of their own. When Rubin goes off for four days and returns to argue and confront his wife with his needs, she in turn reveals what is troubling her, money, that they seem to argue over all the time. Sounds very familiar!I think Robert Preston turns in a fine dramatic performance and fits the role perfectly. His next film was to be The Music Man so he obviously carried over all that dynamic energy to a musical, a very versatile man.Eve Arden, as Lottie, is always too talkative, seeming to wonder aloud on every thought that comes into her head. Eventually she pours out her troubles to Cora while on a visit and this bonds them closer as sisters since both are having difficulties in their marriage.Mavis (Angela Lansbury) is very friendly to Rubin, almost becoming the "other woman" but he's not really ready to cross that line. She's a very understanding and wise lady as it turns out later.It's interesting to get a glimpse into the lives of each character, young and old -- a slice of life, you might say, and to observe the prejudices of the day as they are played out. I think in many ways we've learned to be more tolerant in our time.

Angela tends to play baddies - and she is good at it. In the Manchurian Candidate she was a black widow spider and praying mantis combined - with lipstick. In this movie, she is young and plump and wholesome and pretty - and in one scene with Robert Preston where they share a single kiss, she is more desirable than all the millions of boobs on the Internet.