The Staircase (1998 film)

Last updated
The Staircase
Directed by Karen Arthur
Written byChristopher Lofton
Based on The Staircase
novel
by Ann Rinaldi
Produced byMarty Eli Schwartz
Art Levinson (uncredited)
Starring Barbara Hershey
William Petersen
CinematographyTom Neuwirth
Edited byCraig Bassett
Music by David Michael Frank
Production
companies
BWE Distribution
Craig Anderson Productions
TeleVest Entertainment
Distributed by CBS
Release date
  • 12 April 1998 (1998-04-12)(US)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUSA
LanguageEnglish

The Staircase is a 1998 American television film about the story of the spiral staircase, believed by some to be miraculously built, at the Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It stars Barbara Hershey as Mother Madalyn in charge of the chapel and William Petersen as Joad, the traveling carpenter with spiritual talent as well as woodworking skill. [1] It is based on the novel, The Staircase by Ann Rinaldi.

Contents

Plot

The sisters of the legendary Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe are nearing completion of a chapel, but the architect, contractor and laborers have all omitted stairs to the choir loft. This becomes a source of disagreement and contention between all parties until one day a mysterious drifter, Joad, arrives in town and is hired by the Reverend Mother Madalyn to design and build the staircase.

Cast

Reception

Variety said, "A heavily fictionalized recounting of a real-life event that still defies explanation, “The Staircase” is a fascinating anecdote stretched to fit what are evidently thought to be modern tastes." [2]

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References

  1. "The Staircase (IMDB)". IMDb.
  2. Everett, Todd (8 April 1998). "The Staircase". Variety. Retrieved 9 April 2024.