Gaslight (1944)

1944 • 113 minutes

About this movie

In the role for which she won the first of her three Academy Awards, Ingrid Bergman stars in this classic thriller as a devoted bride whose groom is trying to make her insane as part of his plot to murder her. Late 19th century Victorian England. Young Paula Alquist (Bergman--Casablanca, Indiscreet) has given up a promising singing career to marry Gregory Anton. Deeply in love, she refuses to believe--then cannot convince anyone else--that her new husband is a thief who murdered her aunt, that everyone in her household is plotting to kill her ... and that something evil will happen every time she sees a dimming of the Gaslight.

Ratings and reviews

I've watched this many, many times over the years, find something new each viewing . Charles Boyer a bit hammy, but suavely sinister, Joseph Cotten so modern and natural, and the incomparable Ingrid Bergman, beautifully portraying the manipulated wife/victim, while still exhibiting her strength and passion. Cukor's direction is compelling in glorious black and white. They don't make movies like this anymore ♡♡♡

Great suspense....a classic :) Interestingly this film is used as a reference point of how someone tries to "gaslight" another. It seems that the term "gaslighting", meaning psychologically duping someone to drive them out of their mind, actually came from this film. Definitely worth watching. Very interesting to see how the sociopath husband works against his wife's mind to make her doubt her own sense of reality, and undermine her confidence...then WONDERFUL to see how she defeats him :) Highly recommend :)

If you have ever dealt with a narcissist or sociopath or perhaps doing research to learn more about this disorder, this is a great movie for a better understanding! Love it!