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Gaslight

Gaslight

List Price: $19.98
Your Price: $15.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: NOT a colorized version
Review: The Amazon listing is incorrect, and the photo of the DVD must use an old theatre poster as the artwork. This is the black-and-white version we've been waiting for since we first saw it 5 years ago.

Acting by all characters is just exquisite. We were crawling out of our skins--and we knew the ending!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Mental Cruelty 101
Review: (...) This classic Victorian thriller's plot mechanism of a man trying to drive his wife mad definitely squeaks, but as a study in mental cruelty, this film has lost none of its power. Based on Patrick Hamilton's play "Angel Street" (which, by the way, starred Vincent Price and Judith Evelyn, later to co-star in "The Tingler"!), "Gaslight" was filmed previously in England in 1939. I myself haven't seen the British film, and have heard differing opinions on which film is superior, but I definitely love the 1944 version. I'll give a brief summary of the plot for the uninitiated. Alice Alquist, famed opera diva, was strangled, presumably for her famous jewels, and the murderer was never caught. Her teenaged niece, Paula, who lived with her, is taken to Italy for a presumably better life. The murderer is suave Gregory Anton, (Charles Boyer), a pianist who romances and weds Paula some ten years later, and persuades her to return to London and to live in her late aunt's house. He then proceeds to drive his vulnerable young wife mad, isolating her from other people, telling her that she loses and forgets things, and so on. Greedy Gregory goes out in the evenings, enters the attic by way of the roof, and proceeds to hunt for Alice Alquist's jewels, presumably hidden amongst all of her stored possessions. The gaslight in Paula's room goes down, and she hears footsteps and noises, which Gregory tells her are figments of her imagination. Gregory persists in psychologically battering Paula to a near-breaking point, and suspicious Scotland Yard detective Brian Cameron (played by an underrated Joseph Cotten) becomes Paula's savior, and Gregory is apprehended and taken away. The plot mechanism does creak and is definitely shopworn by today's standards, but the production and performances are first-rate. What can I say about Ingrid Bergman that hasn't already been said? Blessed with one of the loveliest "natural" faces seen on screen, a voice that could melt your heart, and a remarkable talent, she was something else. One scene in particular really sums up where this film's power lies. Charles Boyer (so silkily villainous) whispers to Miss Bergman "My watch is missing" in the middle of a recital, looks in her purse (he planted it there), and Miss Bergman begins to sob uncontrollably. I shudder just thinking about this scene! I've borne witness to similar behavior in real life, and know people who have been in manipulative relationships, so this rings very true to me. But, back to the rest of the cast. A 17 year old Angela Lansbury made her screen debut in this film as a tartish Cockney maid, kicking off a long and great career, and the wonderful Dame May Whitty as an inquisitive neighbor is a delight. The cinematography is lush and moody, the costumes and sets are superb, full of rich detail (one forgets thats these are just sets and not a "real" house), and an ominous score by Bronislau Caper add to this handsome production. In closing, I have to state again how much I admire Ingrid Bergman. The lady was a class act, and in spite of her loveliness, never viewed herself as a "glamour puss". She just wanted to be a great actress, and she certainly more than succeeded, winning her first Academy Award for this film. I'll take Sweden!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: THE 1940 UK VERSION is way better
Review: I have waited for this movie to be released for a long time on dvd.
Now after almost 30 years i get to see the Uk version which is on the flip side of GASLIGHT.
It was called ANGEL STREET.
In everyway its superior.
The acting.The sets.The Atmosphere.AND THE story is better.
This movie is worth buying just for the Uk version alone but you get both movies on one dvd.
Superb value.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: STUNNING NEW TRANSFER OF A THRILLING MASTERPIECE!
Review: I am going to make you believe that you are mad and then push you over the edge of sanity. With those intensions, Gregory Anton (Charles Boyer) sets out to destroy his wife, Paula's (Igrid Bergman) mental stability in "Gaslight". Greg's reasoning? - to have a bit of late supper with the upstairs maid, Nancy (Angela Lansbury). Deception never looked so good. The melodrama is first rate and the performances will have you applauding in your seat.
TRANSFER: Very nice! A wonderfully realized, smooth and overall clean looking DVD transfer that does the movie proud. Black levels are solid and contrast levels are fully realized. There's some minor edge related artifacting but nothing that will distract from the presentation. The audio is sharp and well balanced. Bravo!
EXTRAS: You get the original 1940 British version of "Gaslight" that, I must tell you, is just as compelling as MGM's remake. The transfer elements for the British version are perhaps weaker than one might expect but they are by no means awful - leaving you with twice as much sinaster fun on this double feature. There's also a new retro-documentary on both versions that is generally compelling if all too short.
BOTTOM LINE: Yep, another one to add to your growing classic library!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: a matter of perspective
Review: Well, I beg to differ with the Amazon reviews. The thing that makes this extra creepy is that our young, uncertain heiress fully believes she can trust her new husband. As a matter of survival and love, she finds it impossible to believe any cruelty of him; it is less painful for her to accept her own insanity. The black and white media is used well here, and surely inspired Hitchcock.......

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: What is reality?
Review: Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer are married, but he wants her money. She is sane, but he wants her to think she's not, thus giving him control over everything. To achieve his ends, he tampers with the lights and plays other tricks on her, while pretending to be a caring husband. Many movies have generated quotable phrases, but few have created terms that caught on as usable verbs. For a while, to "gaslight" someone meant to try to convince them that they couldn't trust their own judgment, usually for nefarious reasons.

All that aside, "Gaslight" is a good drama with lots of suspense, featuring two very fine actors. Very watchable.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: My Favorite Thriller!!!!!
Review: I love this Movie!I first decided to watch this when I found out Angela Lansbury was in it,because she is my favorite actress.I saw it on Turner classic movies and I loved this movie ever since.This movie is so great with actress Ingrin Bergam and Actor Charles Boytermake this great as well.Do buy this movie.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Excellent
Review: Finally such an amazing movie appears on DVD! It is no wonder Ingrid Bergman won the Academy Award for this film. She is spectacular as an abused wife, driven mad by her husband.

The ONLY reason I gave it 4-stars is because you can get it cheaper somewhere else. The actual publisher's list price is $14.99 and I'm not entirely sure why Amazon offers it for almost $2 more. This is the same with the Masterpiece Edition Alice in Wonderland. Amazon lists the price as $29.99, but in stores the list price is $24.99. Curiouser and curiouser.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Gaslight COLORIZED?!?!?!?!?
Review: As I have already reviewed this amazingly great film (11/21/03), which is easily in my top ten list, after being parched for it on DVD for years now, I will not repeat myself here. But I was aghast that the product info states that this version will be released in "color". Does that mean colorized? Could this be true, or is it an error? If it is, someone at the wheel at Amazon or the studio needs to correct this before my heart really does stop beating! If this is true, it would be one of the most appallingly egregious and moronic marketing moves ever undertaken. Say it ain't so!!!!
PS from 4/8/04. Ooops! This version is NOT colorized, and the DVD package and quality are just fantastic after all. As Roseanne Rosannadanna said, "Never mind!"

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Hallelujah!
Review: GASLIGHT is finally on DVD! And not just the 1944 suspense classic. This edition includes the complete British GASLIGHT made just a few years before in 1940. For years MGM actively supressed the older film giving rise to the legend that it was a far superior film. Now finally film buffs can view both and decide for themselves.

Both are terrific movies. For me, while the British version is leaner and faster, the Cukor film is by far the greater of the two. The relationship between Walbrook and Wynyard in the 1940 version is a well-played but two dimensional depiction of a tormentor and his victim. Boyer's and Bergman's characters are more complex and subtle in the 1944 film. There is a genuine romantic/sexual energy between them. While Boyer is sinister he also very charming and attractive. And you watch as the once-vibrant Bergman gives up her self confidence and becomes emotionally dependent on Boyer a little bit at a time. And what can you say about the amoral delinquent maid of Angela Lansbury? That alone is worth the price of admission!

A great movie and a very good movie. Buy the DVD and enjoy them both!


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