Gaslight 1944

     Alice Alquist was a famous opera singer and she was strangled in her home because she had hidden away valuable jewels.  Paula Alquist, her orphaned niece was living in the flat at the time but she was sent away to school.  After this experience, she has always been afraid because of what happened and the case was never solved.  It’s been ten years and Paula has met and married Gregory Anton.  He would like for them to reside at the London flat.  Paula feels safe and not afraid with Gregory so she thinks she can go back to this place.  Many things begin to change after they begin their residence in London.

     This is interesting and intriguing.  There is some information we don’t know in the beginning.  Features very good acting by Boyer and Bergman in their lead roles. Cotten has a smaller but important role as a Scotland Yard inspector and former fan of Alice Alquist.  3 1/2* (I liked this movie)

114 min, Crime directed by George Cukor with Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten, Dame May Whitty, Angela Lansbury, Barbara Everest, Emil Rameau, Edmund Breon, Halliwell Hobbes, Tom Stevenson.

Note:  Imdb 7.9 out of 10, 83% critic 91% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.6* out of 5* with 312 reviews.

Special Note:  Gaslight was nominated for seven Academy Awards with two wins.  Best Actress for Ingrid Bergman and Best Black and White Art Direction for the recreated Victorian style town house.  There was a British release prior to this film in 1940.  Both films were adapted from a long-running 1938 London stage play melodrama by Patrick Hamilton.  The 1940 version was suppressed by MGM for DVD release to create the legend that the 1944 version was superior.  Angela Lansbury is 18 years old, this is her film debut and she was nominated for best supporting actress.