The Devil’s Stairway
마의 계단
Young Dr Hyeon has, it seems, everything going for him. A good position at a private hospital, the attentions of the daughter of that institution’s owner, a sexual liaison with an attractive nurse. Marriage to the boss’ daughter would open the way to his eventual succession to the directorship of the whole place. Then the nurse discovers she is pregnant. Trying to keep his suddenly fragile hopes alive, Dr Hyeon resorts to drastic measures. He will be haunted and hunted down by the consequences.
Kim Ki-young showed in The Housemaid (1960) that in the hands of a master of suspense a stairway could take on a malevolent life of its own. Lee Man-hee’s atmospheric noir has two. Kim Jin-kyu often played sober, middle-class professionals, men born to wear suits. In this psycho-thriller the respectability of his Dr Hyeon will be peeled away from him layer by painful layer. (MM)
Director: Lee Man-Hee
Writer: Lee Jong-Taek
Producer: U Gi-Dong
Cast: Kim Jin-Kyu, Moon Jung-Suk, Bang Seong-Ja, Jeong Ae-Ran
Production Company: Se Ki Corporation
Rights Holder: Se Ki Corporation
Drama, Mystery, Thriller / 1964 / 110 min / CERT. 18 / B&W / DCP / Original Format: 35mm
Selected Filmography
The Road to Sampo (1975)
The Wild Flowers in the Battle Field (1974)
Break up the Chain (1971)
Life (1969)
The Starting Point (1967)
A Hero Without A Serial Number (1966)
Full Autumn (1966)
A Water Mill (1966)
Heilong River (1965)
Black Hair (1964)
The Marines Who Never Returned (1963)
Call 112 (1962)
Kaleidoscope (1961)
