"Gaslight" 1944 Movie Review - Episode #70
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- 1944 Gaslight
Directed by: George Cukor
Starring: Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten, Angela Lansbury
#Gaslight #CharlesBoyer #IngridBergman #MovieReviews
This is one of my all time favorite classics, so I HAD to make it a long one. There is just so much to say about "Gaslight."
"Gaslight" would make anyone with a brain fall in love with classics! Hope you enjoy the review!
Warner Archive released this in the UK in the Premium Collection.
Joseph Cotton's standout performance was Shadow of Doubt, which was directed by Hitchcock.
Note: Bergman wasn't British either. I guess her character acquired a different accent because Paula was brought up on the Continent.
Amazing fact... Lansbury was only 17 when the movie was filmed. I watched it again the other night... had been many years. It's hard to put into words how much I admire this film. It does seem close to perfect in every way, even better than what Hitchcock might have done. Cukor did not have the same psychological obsessions as Hitch. As a pro photographer I especially admire the B&W cinematography. It's as good as it gets, as good as anything James Wong Howe or Greg Toland. Back to Lansbury, I just ate up every moment she was onscreen. She brings so much to this character of questionable character.
I watched this tonight. Wow. It is perfect. And it looks amazing.
Charles Boyer does a great job playing the bad guy. He was a bit scary at times. I wanted to hit him half way through, or maybe sooner. And amazingly he managed to get a brief moment of sympathy at the end when he eloquently, almost pleadingly, explains to her how the diamonds had a hold on him. Small comfort for her at that point, and way too little way too late, but at least he offered an explanation for his actions. Ever the gentleman.
I was worried for a second that Ingrid Bergman's character was going to waver. She also does an excellent job, as does Joseph Cotten. I was really rooting for him at the end. That guy was in more awesome movies than just about anyone.
I'm really glad I watched this again. Every time I saw Ingrid Bergman and Joseph Cotten on the screen at the same time I thought of Sam and Henrietta Flusky, the husband and wife characters they play in Under Capricorn. Even story-wise this reminded me a lot of Under Capricorn. Alfred Hitchcock must have seen this and been inspired by it. I'm not sure why Under Capricorn doesn't get a higher rating on IMDB. I love it.
I'm glad you loved "Gaslight" because it is a special movie to me. I just love the classics that made us fall in love with the genre.
I just put this on my rewatch list. It's been ages since I've seen it. I ordered the blu-ray version, which should be arriving tomorrow. Can't wait. (Though I don't really like seeing Charles Boyer as a bad guy, since my favorite movie with him is History is Made at Night.)
I also have an old movie that means something special to me. It was a lazy summer day, the windows were open with a nice breeze in the air, and The Naked Jungle (1954) was on TV. It was the first old movie I ever sat down to watch, and I had no idea what I was even watching--it captivated me. It still does. The look and the atmosphere held my attention from start to finish. It's a great adventure movie with Eleanor Parker and Charlton Heston.
Interestingly I just watched a somewhat forgotten movie with Ingrid Bergman called The Visit (1964). It's not a Hollywood movie, and sometimes the dubbing is obvious, but the premise is an interesting one. She comes back to a town as a wealthy widow under the pretense of helping them through economic difficulty, but she really has other plans--revenge. Anthony Quinn finds himself in quite the predicament. I was looking for an Ingrid Bergman movie I had never seen. It's worth checking out.
I'd say that my favorite Ingrid Bergman movie is Under Capricorn (1949) with Joseph Cotten. I remember reading how he didn't like the movie (probably because it tanked at the box office), but I love it to death. The bond between him and Ingrid Bergman is very deep and believable, and stands up to the troubles they face, and to her inner demons. It's a bit rare of a movie because it's "man vs man" and "man vs self". Or should I say "woman vs self". She has some inner demons to face, and it's fascinating watching her struggle through her problems with the help she gets from Michael Wilding's character, who plays a bit of a ne're do well. It's also a great movie to watch on a stormy night. You'll know what I mean if you ever check it out.
I also want to mention a movie with Ingrid Bergman called Saratoga Trunk (1945). It's directed by Sam Wood, who I've mentioned in some of your other reviews. It's a hard movie to describe and while I like it a lot, it understandably gets mixed reviews. Let me just say this about it--I've literally seen thousands of movies, both old and new, and (to me) it is hands down the best looking movie of all time. It's dying for a blu-ray release.
It's great to have your comments back! I agree it is strange seeing Boyer as the bad guy, but I read this was his only villain role he ever played...and he does a great job at it. I also think smart of you to get this in bluray because I mentioned to my parents that this movie is definitely worth owning a copy of. I'm actually interested in seeing "Under Capricorn" because I have been on such a Joseph Cotten binge lately...I recently saw the worst Clark Gable movie I have ever see, "Comrade X," it was so bad that I don't even have the energy to review it haha which is unfortunate because I thought Gable and Hedy Lamarr would make a great combo. "Saratoga Trunk," looks interesting as well...I've never been a big Gary Cooper fan but you have my interest and Sam Wood was a great director!
I could talk about classic movies all day. I know what you mean about Comrade X. It's especially surprising given that Ben Hecht wrote the screenplay. He was usually very solid.
Under Capricorn may be my most rewatched movie, which is saying something. I'm really drawn to Ingrid Bergman's character in it. She exudes an extremely gentle and fragile nature throughout the movie, more so than in other movies, and it really makes you root for her. Joseph Cotten is the exact opposite. He's very gruff from having lived a rough life, but you still root for him because he's trying really hard to make things right. The contrast between the two is very interesting to watch.
The Gaslight blu-ray arrived yesterday, but it arrived a little too late for me to squeeze it in. I'll watch it tonight or tomorrow for sure.
I’m actually looking for review from someone who hates this Film. I don’t just take the film I hate the whole genre of gaslighting because it is such an overly elaborate I and round about method to get it what you want.If your entire strategy rests on your ability to manipulate someone at every single key point, If someone doesn’t buy into your ridiculous manipulation at any point the entire house of cards collapses. I don’t remember the pretense for why he didn’t just go looking through the house. But I assume it was because he didn’t want to be caught out.. Sadly I spent the entire movie rolling my eyes both of his stupid strategy and I her ability to be duped.The whole thing collapses if he can’t convince the madhouse that she’s actually mad there are so many points in the film where if it doesn’t go his way it was all over. Saturday Night Live s parodied the insanity of the plot. Which so far has been my only real ally. The film is well reviewed so I have to accept sometimes I may be wrong.
I certainly understand why you may have problems suspending your disbelief. Both a play and a movie compresses time.
In a true gaslight situation, the narcissist takes his/her time to gain confidence which later becomes control. In real cases of spousal abuse, victims are diminished in their own sight, isolated from family and friends, and become wholely dependent on their tormentor.
Boyer's character is as charming as he is devious. However in the portrayal, the manipulative and greedy spouse let's his mask slip a couple of times. Bergman's character is fragile due to a past trauma, having witnessed her aunt's murder.
Gaslight or its many iterations may never be your favorite genre, however I think with another viewing you might appreciate the cinematic spectacle more.
@@linneab8317 No offense intended to you but I also have a problem with laymen diagnosing narcisists. The people in my life who claim narcisists also tend to be deeply into conspiracies. And I aware an industry has been built around diagnosing and dealing with the aftermath of someone who believes they are victims of a narcisist. Its a rabbit hole of its own. Getting back to the movie that is entirely possible a later viewing could change my mind. It has happened that a film I hated became really good to me on another viewing. Most of the time, I am just reminded of what triggered me in the previous viewing.