Gaslight

Rating:
Summary: One of Ingrid Bergman's finest hours
Review: "Gaslight" always impresses me with its great story, atmospheric sets (which quite rightly won the Academy Award for that year), taut suspense and mind chilling performance by Charles Boyer as the sadistic and money obsessed husband of heiress Ingrid Bergman.

The play on one individual's mental state of mind and the consequences that that has for that individualis the story upon which "Gaslight" is based. Rarely has this often used theme been so well employed as in George Cukor's updated version of a British film of the 30's. It tells the story of Paula Alquist (Bergman) who marries Gregory Anton who is not all he appears to be and after they begin their married life together Paula finds that not only is her husband not the loving individual she thought he was, but that he is disappearing at night with no explanation. Paula suddenly finds herself trapped in a hostile environment with no one to really help her. She begins to be at first intimidated and then terrified by strange noises in distant parts of the house, the gaslights of the title being mysteriously lowered with no explanation and suddenly, according to her husband, she is starting to lose her mind as she imagines things, becomes forgetful and looses some of her precious belongings.

"Gaslight" boasts a wonderful cast, all at the peak of their careers when this production was made. It really is old style Hollywood at its very best. Ingrid Bergman delivers a stunning oscar winning performance as the put upon heroine of the piece. Her decline into a mass of uncertainities at the hands of her husband and her eventual playing of the same game to outsmart him is brilliantly portrayed and George Cukor's sure hand with directing female performers to top notch performances is very evident. Charles Boyer, never a favourite actor of mine, shines in the role of the unbalanced Gregory who is motivated by greed in his determination to destroy his wife. His harsh treatment of the Bergman character while disturbing to watch, is also masterfully played and he has just the right elements of menace and cunning to keep us the audience guessing till well into the proceedings about his real motives and reasons for marrying Paula.

The cast is rounded out by a stunning debut from Angela Lansbury as the brassy cockney maid who is not slow to read the situation existing in the house and who is not above making her own play for th emaster of the house. She is at times harsh, calculating and naive about who and what she is dealing with and her presence on screen is riveting. Joseph Cotton plays the police inspector who comes to Paula's rescue and delivers his usual solid performance but he can't help but fade into insignificance beside Boyer's more flamboyant playing as the villian. Dame May Whitty also appears in a humourous performance as Gregory and Paula's nosy neighbour who tries for the entire running length of the film to get inside the house across the square to find out for herself about the mysterious goings on. She adds the very essential "English" element to the proceedings and as always is excellent in her performance.

"Gaslight" is a very eerie and disturbing film in many ways but done with such finesse that it becomes a memorable viewing experience. It was a perfect marriage of talented performers, great director, great atmosphere and a real sense of suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seats. Bergman and Boyer have wonderful chemistry together which goes a long way to explaining how they managed to lift an often used theme to new heights of viewing entertainment. The usual MGM style and no expense spared budget add tremendously to the overrall look and feel of "Gaslight". Cedric Gibbon's interior design captures beautifully that rich Victorian flavour that Hollywwod was so good at recreating on a Hollywood sound stage.

Enjoy "Gaslight" on a cold winters night with all the drapes pulled shut, it will be a guaranteed memorable viewing experience if you are watching it for the first or umteenpth time. A true classic from Hollywood's golden age.

Rating:
Summary: Gripping thriller still
Review: A brilliant, creepy movie of a control freak destroying a mind, Boyer and Bergman are superb. Angela Lansbury is stellar as the maid. Cotten is unfortunately cast, it being abit weird for an uncompromisingly American guy to be working at Scotland Yard. However, despite being almost sixty years old, this movie masterfully relays tensions. It's unfortunate that the plotline is telegraphed so far in advance, but watching Boyer and Bergmans' scenes together are more than enough to grip you. Perfect to watch on a grim, rainy night.

Rating:
Summary: The French and the Swedish cannot be surpassed. Just try.
Review: "But Paula!"

Try to say that like Charles Boyer. If you succeed, I'll give you a penny for your success in imitating the inimitable. I'd give you a dime but I don't have a dime. I think Gregory Anton is hiding my money someplace and planning to make me think I did it.

This isn't Hitchcock, but it could have been, because it is so very suspenseful and artistic with never a dull moment. The cast consists primarily of the murderous husband, the wife going nuts, the cuckoo neighbour across the street who loves diggie biscuits and chats with pigeons, a maid with attitude, and the detective with the pretty hair who comes just in time to save the day and maybe a few lives too.

This is one of the best movies I've ever seen, but keep in mind it is also a very nerve-wracking film and defnitely NOT to be watched if you are trying to be calm or relieve stress. Unless you're very unusual. It is extremely intense and I feel like I'm going mad right along with Paula, listening to Gregory baby-talk her into lunacy with that French accent. Really, this guy should have won an Oscar for so convincingly portraying such an obsessive weirdo. This was the first time I ever saw Charles Boyer in anything and it was not a good first impression, although I changed my mind about him after seeing All This and Heaven Too. As for Ingrid, she is unsurpassed anyway, regardless of the fact that she played Paula to a tea. (This took place in England, see.)

Well, I think I've said my piece well enough. You don't need to rent this movie - buy it. If by some narrow chance you don't like it, you can send it to me.

Rating:
Summary: Tense, psychological thriller
Review: With great performances by Charles Boyer, Oscar Winner Ingrid Bergman and Joseph Cotten, "Gaslight" is one of the best thrillers of the '40's and indeed of all time. It proves to us that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to people, but also to any other situation. It also asks us if we know the ones we trust (Some plot spoilers).

The story is of a married couple: Paula (Bergman) and Gregory Anton (Boyer). Paula's aunt, a famous performer named Alice Alquiest, was murdered ten years before in her house while Paula was there. Now, her and Gregory have come to live in that same house in Thornton square. Whenever Gregory goes to work on evenings, Paula begins to hear sound up in the attic and the gas always goes down. Though he does some suspicious acts, she doesn't suspect that Gregory is obsessed with locating her aunt's jewels. But Gregory convinces Paula that she is ill and devises a plan to systematically drive her mad. Only when a Scotland Yard Inspector (Cotten) reopens the Alquiest case does the truth unravel. But will Paula still keep her sanity?

In addition to the three leads, there is also supporting work from Dame May Whitty, Barbara Everest and Angela Lansbury, in her screen debut. The cinematography is also very well done and allows us to venture into Paula's isolation and heightens the mood and suspense. The art direction also won an Oscar and Boyer was nominated for his despicable character. Boyer never strikes Bergman throughout the whole movie, yet is able to dominate her by using strong, forceful words.

Multiple viewings don't cause the movie to age. Rather, they strengthen it. Do yourself a favor and rent this tonight.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Teaching Tool for Psychology of Mind Control
Review: As a former cult member who now teaches college students about mind control, I can honestly say that "Gaslight" is the best movie by far which illustrates how one person can control another through deception and subtle influence. I saw this film last year after reading that Margaret Singer, leading researcher on destructive cults, uses this film as a teaching tool. Charles Boyer is wonderful as the dashing husband who is too good to be true, and Ingrid Bergman delivers a fascinating performance of a woman tortured by his vices. If you've read Cialdini's "Psychology of Influence," you will be able to point out each of his six "Weapons of Influence" in this film. This film is a must see for former cult members, or anyone who has ever been victimized by abusive, manipulative relationships.

Rating:
Summary: Old Victorian classic
Review: This is a classic and it has not aged one iota, even if it is a victorian crime story. The construction of the plot is slow and very cautious to build up a suspense that does not suffer with multiple viewing. The actor and actress are great in their parts and they really show in their behaviors and expressions the deep disquieting situation. The general lesson of such a film is that no one can trust anyone when diamonds are at stake. All is good for the « vulture » who wants the diamonds to recuperate them and the woman who is taken up in that machination becomes a tool that can be discarded any time if it helps the objective of the criminal. But it is also very moral because Scotland Yard is looking after you and you can trust them to do anything they can to protect you. Of course it is an old film without any special effects but the acting is so good that we can forget those elements of modernity that generally do not add anything to a film except more visual elements that replace the acting of the actors. Here the whole film is founded on this excellent acting. It was a time when actors were the very center of films, and these do it marvellously.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

Rating:
Summary: I have to say this!!!
Review: There are already over twenty reviews of this movie at this site, but I had to put my two cents worth in.

Gaslight is the earliest of Bergman's works I have seen.

We know from studies on facial expression and nonverbal communication that the face is difficult to read because of the rapidity of movement of the many features of the face...eyes, mouth, checks, chin. But I swear, watching this film makes me believe that Bergman could command the movement of her hair folicles and skin pores. There are facial movements in this film that absolutely cannot be seen with the naked eye. It appears that she has not moved a muscle yet she has conveyed a powerful emotion.

That's why Bergman must be in the top ten actresses of all times.

The story was good, but watching Ingrid was superb!

Rating:
Summary: A very great film!
Review: I would highly recommend this film to anyone. It has a lot of drama and suspense in it , and is very entertaining.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: This is a great film to watch if you enjoy dark, brooding dramas. Charles Boyer is fantastic as the menacing Gregory Anton, but it's Ingrid Bergman's first-rate performance as the demure Paula who's being driven insane by her husband Gregory, that makes the film a real treat! Ingrid Bergman shows more intense emotion here than in most of her other films. Be sure to see this one.

Rating:
Summary: Bergman at Her Best
Review: As a fan of the "classics" this movie is right up my alley. Every time I watch it I find more details that I missed the first time. My hope is that these old classics will be released again for VHS and/ or DVD. More often than not trips to the theaters are resulting in huge let downs, as the films are either poorly written or the quality of acting isn't up to the standards from the past. Instead of having a large choice of actors to enjoy, such as, Bergman, Grace Kelly, Katherine Hepburn, Audrey Hepburn, Lauren Bacall (and these are just the women), I could go on and on, we have limited choices of talented actors. Please consider re- releasing the old movies of great for those of us who love to watch a truely good movie.