Movies
Ingrid Bergman in GASLIGHT Saturday Morning at The Hi-Pointe
“It isn’t here, you must have dreamed you put it there. Are you suggesting that this is a knife I hold in my hand? Have you gone mad, my husband?”
GASLIGHT plays at The Hi-Pointe Theater (1005 McCausland Ave., St. Louis, MO 63117) September 19th at 10:30am as part of their Classic Film Series
Greetings again from the darkness! Husbands were surely disliked in the 1940’s, at least by writers of movies! There is no shortage of films depicting the villainous husband targeting the unsuspecting and defenseless wife. A couple years prior to GASLIGHT we had SUSPCION, and a couple years after, we had NOTORIOUS. The latter also features Ingrid Bergman who won her first Oscar for GASLIGHT, one of the more atmospheric of the psychological thrillers.
GASLIGHT is based on the Patrick Hamilton play Angel Street, which will be performed live, on stage at St. Louis’ own REP Theater Oct 14 thru Nov 8. For details about showtimes and tickets at The Rep, go HERE
GASLIGHT was made in 1944 and features terrific lead performances by Ms. Bergman and Charles Boyer, a role quite against type for France’s romantic leading man. Joseph Cotten delivers a solid (and nice) supporting role as the interested Scotland Yard detective, and making her screen debut is an 18 year old Angela Lansbury (yes this movie is now 71 years old).
Mr. Boyer is quite convincing and creepy as the despicable husband out to convince his bride that she is slipping into insanity. The psychological abuse is painful to watch, and the art/set direction provides such perfect decor that we share the claustrophobia and entrapment with Bergman’s Paula. This audience connection allows for a most effective comeuppance or revenge scene that is simply delicious.
There was actually a mostly unsuccessful UK film version in 1940, but it doesn’t stand up to this expert production from director George Cukor. Mr. Cukor is the legendary director behind such classics as LITTLE WOMEN, THE PHILADELPHIA STORY, and MY FAIR LADY. GASLIGHT received 7 Oscar nominations and in addition to Ms. Bergman’s win, it also took home the statue for Best Art Direction. The film, Cukor and Boyer all lost out to that year’s big winner GOING MY WAY. Not many films have a psychology term named after them … here’s hoping you are never a victim of “gaslighting”.
Now you’ll have the chance to see GASLIGHT on the big screen when it plays as part of The Hi-Pointe Theater’s Saturday Morning Classic Film Series! Doors open at 10am GASLIGHT begins at 10:30! Admission is only $5!!
The Hi-Pointe is located at 1005 McCausland Ave., St. Louis, MO 63117. Their website can be found HERE
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