The Staircase (1998) - Turner Classic Movies

Brief Synopsis

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Telefilm based on the legend of the miraculous staircase of the Sisters of Loreto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Mother Madalyn, the mother superior of an order of Catholic nuns in Santa Fe in 1878, is dying and her last wish is to see her gift to God, a beautiful chapel, completed before her death

Cast & Crew

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Karen Arthur

Barbara Hershey

William Petersen

Diane Ladd

Sister Margaret

Louis Ferriera

David Clennon

Film Details

Also Known As

Kraft Premier Movie (04/12/98), Staircase

Genre

Drama

Period

Religion

Release Date

1998

Production Company

CBS Entertainment; CFI Hollywood; Post Group, The

Location

Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

Technical Specs

Duration

2h

Synopsis

Telefilm based on the legend of the miraculous staircase of the Sisters of Loreto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Mother Madalyn, the mother superior of an order of Catholic nuns in Santa Fe in 1878, is dying and her last wish is to see her gift to God, a beautiful chapel, completed before her death. When she discovers that the architect and contractor have neglected to build a staircase leading to the choir loft, Mother Madalyn and the sisters pray to St Joseph the patron saint of carpenters. Soon after, a mysterious man named Joad arrives from the desert and offers to build a never-before-seen circular staircase. Joad's solution appears to be a miracle to Mother Madalyn but others are skeptical, and the original architect and contractor, angry and embarrassed by their oversight, plot to sabotage Joad's plan. But Joad succeeds in building the staircase and more than 100 years later, the staircase still stands.

Director

Karen Arthur

Cast

Barbara Hershey

William Petersen

Diane Ladd

Sister Margaret

Louis Ferriera

David Clennon

Paul Robert Langdon

Anthony Ritter

Mark Sivertsen

Rodney Grant

Jane Goold

Boots Southerland

Paul Geoffrey

Ben Fuhrman

Peter Quintana

Adan Sanchez

Stephanie Jones

Earnest Sanchez

Rodney A. Grant

Louis Ferreira

Crew

Craig Anderson

Executive Producer

Jaime Archer

Lisa Arpino

Craig Bassett

Lynda Brotherton

Extras Agent/Coordinator

Michael Buster

Shawna Callahan

Assistant Editor

Bayard Carey

Edward Chavez

Technical Advisor

Janet L Davidson

Assistant Director

Katie Douthit

Jason Douthitt

Robert Edgar

Greg Eichman

Chris Espeset

Nancy Florent

David Michael Frank

Jody Frisch

Jeffrey S Grant

Executive Producer

Fred Harpman

Production Designer

Elizabeth Himelstein

Anne Johns

Production Coordinator

Joanna Kennedy

Script Supervisor

Sarah Koeppe

Location Casting

Wooten Lee

Art Levinson

Production Manager

Art Levinson

Murshel C. Lewis

Costume Supervisor

Joseph Litsch

Christopher Lofton

Christopher Lofton

Randi Mavestrand

Joseph Melody

Dan Miller

Property Master

Tom Neuwirth

Director Of Photography

Mark O'connor

Randy Paik

Assistant Camera Operator

Andre Perreault

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Edgar Perry

Technical Advisor

Marla D Saltzer

Assistant Director

Marty Eli Schwartz

Bruce Simballa

Transportation Coordinator

Barbara Simpson

Location Manager

Orly Sitowitz

Casting Associate

Barcie Waite

Costume Designer

Judith Weiner

Film Details

Also Known As

Kraft Premier Movie (04/12/98), Staircase

Genre

Drama

Period

Religion

Release Date

1998

Production Company

CBS Entertainment; CFI Hollywood; Post Group, The

Location

Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

Technical Specs

Duration

2h

Quotes

Trivia

Miscellaneous Notes

Aired in United States April 12, 1998

Began shooting September 9, 1997.

Completed shooting September 29, 1997.

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