Log in / Sign up
 
    Share this page

    Gaslight

    Reviewed by
    pietroantoni@

    I just this moment finished watching the original English film of GASLIGHT, 1940 starring the beautiful Diana Wynyard and dashing Anton Walbrook based on the stage play ANGEL STREET. The Hollywood re-make came in 1944 with Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer. It is this 1944 version that has remained the classic and for good reason. At best, the English version is merely mediocre.

    The English, 1940 version lacks almost any kind of suspense and the thrills are few, if any. Wynyard underplays the part which won Ingrid Bergman an Oscar, very detrimental to the overall plot while Anton Walbrook overplays his role to the point that it becomes not quite believable. Charles Boyer in 1944 truly offered a terrifying figure of evil.

    The screenplay is not bold or taut enough to make this diabolical plot come to life. It reveals a number of incidents far too early in the plot, making much anti-climactic. The conclusion disappointed me a great deal as it didn't have the menace or power to sustain what should have been a final, cathartic moment between husband and supposed wife, leaving us as well as the wife totally vindicated. I would have to blame the direction for creating an atmosphere that is too static, hardly at all thrilling or believable. What works in the theatre doesn't necessarily work on film. The 1940 GASLIGHT needed several changes from the play to make it work on film, but neither the screenplay nor the direction were intelligent or clever enough to make this film version work. It would take George Cukor to create a masterpiece from the same material four years later, 1944.

    4
    HelpfulNot helpful  Reply
    pietroantoni@  11.3.2015 age: 36-49 14,551 reviews

    Show all reviews for this movie
    Note: The movie review posted on this page reflects a personal opinion of one user. We are not responsible for its content.

    Did you see ''Gaslight''?

    There is a problem with your e-mail address and we are unable to communicate with you. Please go to My Account to update your email.

    How do you rate this movie?

    Select stars from 1 to 10.
    10 - A masterpiece, go, see it now
    9 - Excellent movie, a must see
    8 - Great movie, don't miss it
    7 - Good movie, worth seeing
    6 - Not bad, could be much better
    5 - So so, okay if you don't pay
    4 - Not good, even if you don't pay
    3 - Poor movie, not recommended
    2 - Very bad, forget about it
    1 - Worst ever, avoid at all costs

    Please explain. Write your comment here:

    Please choose a username to sign your comments. Only letters, digits, dash - or period. Minimum 4 characters.

    Your age and sex:

    We publish all comments, except abusive, at our discretion.