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poster of Gaslight
Rating: 7.467/10 by 485 users

Gaslight (1944)

A newlywed fears she's going mad when strange things start happening at the family mansion.

Directing:
  • George Cukor
  • Jack Greenwood
Writing:
  • Walter Reisch
  • John L. Balderston
  • John Van Druten
  • Patrick Hamilton
  • Patrick Hamilton
  • Patrick Hamilton
Stars:
Release Date: Thu, May 04, 1944

Rating: 7.467/10 by 485 users

Alternative Title:
Angoscia - IT
À Meia Luz - BR
La luz que agoniza - AR
Das Haus der Lady Alquist - AT
Газената лампа - BG
Gaslys - DK
Kaasuvalo - FI
Hantise - FR
Efialtis - GR
Gázláng - HU
가스등 - KR
La luz que agoniza - MX

Country:
United States of America
Language:
English
Runtime: 01 hour 54 minutes
Budget: $2,068,000
Revenue: $0

Plot Keyword: scotland yard, manipulation, victorian england, psychological abuse, murder, psychological thriller, nervous breakdown, older husband, driven mad, abusive husband, gaslight, domineering husband, sadistic husband, emotional abuse, gaslighting, male gold digger, bluebeard

Charles Boyer
Gregory Anton
Ingrid Bergman
Paula Alquist
Joseph Cotten
Brian Cameron
May Whitty
Bessie Thwaites
Angela Lansbury
Nancy Oliver
Barbara Everest
Elizabeth Tompkins
Emil Rameau
Maestro Guardi
Edmund Breon
General Huddleston
Heather Thatcher
Lady Mildred Dalroy
Jack Kirk
Cab Driver (uncredited)
Lillian Bronson
Lady (uncredited)
Leonard Carey
Guide (uncredited)
Alec Craig
Turnkey (uncredited)
Helen Flint
Franchette (uncredited)
Gibson Gowland
Servant (uncredited)
Gary Gray
Boy in Park with Nanny (uncredited)
Terry Moore
Paula Alquist, age 14 (uncredited)
Syd Saylor
Baggage Clerk (uncredited)
Morgan Wallace
Fred Garrett (uncredited)
Maude Fealy
Bit Part (uncredited)
Frank Baker
Pedestrian (uncredited)
Harry Adams
Policeman (uncredited)
Joseph North
Policeman (uncredited)
Lassie Lou Ahern
Young Girl (uncredited)
John Ardizoni
Cab Man (uncredited)
Antonio D'Amore
Cab Man (uncredited)
Joseph Romantini
Cab Man (uncredited)
Guy Zanette
Cab Man (uncredited)
Wilson Benge
Pedestrian (uncredited)
Arthur Blake
Butler (uncredited)
Roger Gray
Stranger (uncredited)
Bobby Hale
Lamplighter (uncredited)
Joy Harington
Laura Pritchard (uncredited)
Charles McNaughton
Wilkins (uncredited)
Georgie Nokes
Boy (uncredited)
Tarquin Olivier
Boy in Museum (uncredited)
Arthur Stone
Durkin (uncredited)
Eric Wilton
Valet (uncredited)
Eustace Wyatt
Budge (uncredited)
Al Ferguson
Bit Part (uncredited)
Clive Morgan
Bit Part (uncredited)
Elsie Prescott
Bit Part (uncredited)

John Chard

I knew from the first moment I saw you that you were dangerous to her. Gaslight is directed by George Cukor and is adapted to screenplay from Patrick Hamilton’s play by John Van Druten, Walter Reisch and John L. Balderston. It stars Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer, Joseph Cotton, May Whitty, Barbara Everest and Angela Lansbury. Music is by Bronislaw Kaper and cinematography by Joseph Ruttenberg. Years after her aunt was murdered in her London home, Paula Alquist Anton (Bergman) moves back there with her new husband, Gregory Anton (Boyer). However, what at first seems to be an idyllic marriage begins to crumble as Paula appears to be losing her mind… You really have to put into context just how great Gaslight is as per the time it was released. For it holds up now as something of a torch igniter for what has followed over the decades. The psychological thriller – specifically that of a spouse being tormented by their partner – has been mined for all its worth - and will continue to do so. Even the terminology of very real life instances such as Gaslighted/Gaslighting have been born out from the pic, so if it is thought of being dated or old hat, its influence is still quite considerable. It’s still a terrific atmospheric thriller anyway, played out to a magnificent backdrop of Victorian London, of fogs and cobbled streets, and of course gas lights and eerie shadows. Pic is split into two halves, first half is the set-up of a whirlwind romance that leads to marriage, then the move to the marital home and support characters - nosy neighbour (Whitty), housekeeper (Everest), tart housemaid (Lansbury on debut) - are introduced to proceedings. Deft psychological touches are being played out, though wonderfully we never actually see the misdirection machinations actually being done. Then as the second half happens upon us it really hits the diabolical straps, the methodical manoeuvres of Gregory Anton really start to gnaw away at our senses. We witness Paula come apart, her mind fractured, so vulnerable and confused, you would have to have a heart of stone not to have your very core ache. It’s here where Bergman, in the first of her three Best Actress Oscar wins, excels without duff histrionics. Boyer also is superb, where guided by the astute Cukor he makes Gregory a dashing dastard, only given to subtle clues about his devious and wicked doings. Cotton doesn’t try to do a British accent, which is fine as he holds his end up well as Brian Cameron, the man getting to grips with what’s actually going on in the Alton home. Brian is our hero in waiting, giving us something to hang onto as the pic reaches revelations point. With Ruttenberg (Oscar Nominated) drifting what would be known as noirish contrasts over the piece, and Kaper’s music unobtrusively subtle, Gaslight hits high marks for tech credit substance. All told it’s a truly great film, and one that’s well worth going back to if you become jaded with the more slick and polished production line genre pieces that follow in its wake. 9/10


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