Step Down to Terror

Step Down to Terror

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Harry Keller
Produced by Joseph Gershenson
Written by Mel Dinelli
Czenzi Ormonde
Sy Gomberg
Based on story Uncle Charlie by Gordon McDonnell
Starring Colleen Miller
Charles Drake
Rod Taylor
Josephine Hutchinson
Cinematography Russell Metty
Production
company
Universal-International
Distributed by Universal-International
Release dates
 1958
Country United States
Language English

Step Down to Terror (also known as The Silent Stranger) is a 1958 American film directed by Harry Keller. It is a remake of the 1943 Alfred Hitchcock film Shadow of a Doubt.[1]

Plot

Johnny Williams (Drake), a psychotic serial killer who returns to his hometown to visit his mother (Hutchinson) and widowed sister-in-law Helen (Miller), both of whom are ignorant of his criminal past. Johnny hopes to settle down and start life anew, but Helen, her suspicions aroused by visiting detective Mike Randall (Taylor), discovers the truth about her beloved brother-in-law. Failing to talk Helen out of turning him in, Johnny methodically plots her murder. When all his plans fail he drags Helen into his car and drives off with her. Knowing Johnny is going to kill her, Helen grabs the keys, and he is forced to swerve to avoid hitting a boy riding his bike, and is killed in the resulting accident. At the memorial service, as Johnny is lauded as a model citizen, only Helen and Mike know the real truth.

Cast

Production

At one stage Ross Hunter was going to produce and Donna Reed was going to star.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Stephen Vagg, Rod Taylor: An Aussie in Hollywood, Bear Manor Media 2010 p. 58
  2. ↑ Kennedy, Field 'Peyton' Favorites; Big Global Group to Honor Disney Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 03 May 1957: 25.

External links