Gaslight
Gaslight, the 1944 film adapted from Patrick Hamilton’s play entitled Angel Street, was the second version of the story to be filmed. The first, 1940′s The Murder in Thornton Square, was released in Britain. The 1944 version of the film was directed by George Cukor (David Copperfield, The Philadelphia Story). It starred Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer, an 18-year old Angela Lansbury in her very first role, and Joseph Cotten.
The film covers the story of Paula (Bergman), a woman with a dark history. Early in her life, Paula lived with her aunt who was a famous entertainer. Paula’s aunt was murdered in her home and Paula found the body when she was very young. The case is never solved and Paula is sent away from the home to go to school. Ten years pass and Paula returns to London with her new husband, an older pianist named Gregory Anton (Boyer). They move into Paula’s aunt’s old house, which Paula inherited. Paula becomes increasingly isolated by her husband and it becomes overwhelmingly obvious that some foul games are afoot. As the plot unravels and the tension increases, the story behind Gregory and the aunt’s old house becomes clear.
