American Kit Preston (Doris Day) lives in London with husband Anthony (Rex Harrison). She starts being stalked and getting phone calls by a man saying he's going to kill her. But nobody else is around when he calls. Is he real or is she going crazy?
A VERY loose remake of "Gaslight". The film is far-fetched (especially at the end) and full of obvious red herrings. Also there were one or two plot threads never adequately explained at the end. Still, this was entertaining. It's very glossy with breath-taking sets and 17 costume changes (!!!) by Day--but this IS a Ross Hunter movie (he did "Imitation of Life" which had the same kind of treatment). So, even when the movie slows down there's always something to look at.
There's mostly solid acting by the entire cast. Harrison was just so-so as the husband but everybody else was fine. John Gavin pops up a few times just being incredibly handsome but actually isn't that bad. Myrna Loy steals the show as Aunt Bea in every scene she's in--and check out the incredibly ugly yellow hat with green sash she wears at one point! Best of all is Day. You might think she would be terrible in a straight dramatic role but she's actually quite good. Her terror at what's happening is totally believable and there's an incredible scene where she has a complete nervous breakdown. She hated making this film because it emotionally wore her down--she vowed never again to do a thriller. That's too bad--she was so good here.
So it's not believable but is still worth watching. Recommended.
A VERY loose remake of "Gaslight". The film is far-fetched (especially at the end) and full of obvious red herrings. Also there were one or two plot threads never adequately explained at the end. Still, this was entertaining. It's very glossy with breath-taking sets and 17 costume changes (!!!) by Day--but this IS a Ross Hunter movie (he did "Imitation of Life" which had the same kind of treatment). So, even when the movie slows down there's always something to look at.
There's mostly solid acting by the entire cast. Harrison was just so-so as the husband but everybody else was fine. John Gavin pops up a few times just being incredibly handsome but actually isn't that bad. Myrna Loy steals the show as Aunt Bea in every scene she's in--and check out the incredibly ugly yellow hat with green sash she wears at one point! Best of all is Day. You might think she would be terrible in a straight dramatic role but she's actually quite good. Her terror at what's happening is totally believable and there's an incredible scene where she has a complete nervous breakdown. She hated making this film because it emotionally wore her down--she vowed never again to do a thriller. That's too bad--she was so good here.
So it's not believable but is still worth watching. Recommended.