Gaslight (1940)

Director:

Thorold Dickinson

Writers:

Patrick Hamilton (play)
A.R. Rawlinson (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

10 November 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller

Tagline:

A melodrama of a strange love!

Plot:

Twenty years ago, old Mrs. Barlow was killed in her home at 12, Pimlico Square for her priceless rubies...

Plot Keywords:

Rubies | Murder | Driven Mad | Husband Wife Relationship | Maid

Cast

Anton Walbrook	...	Paul Mallen
Diana Wynyard	...	Bella Mallen
Frank Pettingell	...	B.G. Rough
Cathleen Cordell	...	Nancy the Parlour Maid
Robert Newton	...	Vincent Ullswater
Minnie Rayner	...	Elizabeth, the Cook
Jimmy Hanley	...	Cobb
Marie Wright	...	Alice Barlow
Aubrey Dexter	...	House Agent
Mary Hinton	...	Lady Winterbourne
Angus Morrison	...	Pianist
Jack Barty	...	Chairman of Music Hall
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
The Darmora Ballet

Also Known As:

A Strange Case of Murder
Angel Street (USA)
The Murder in Thornton Square (USA) (new title)

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Warwick Way, Pimlico, London, England, UK

Company:

British National Films

Trivia:

When later remade as Gaslight (1944) with Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman, the studio (MGM) attempted to have all prints of this earlier version destroyed. Fortunately, it was unsuccessful (in fact it is thought that director Thorold Dickinson surreptitiously struck off a print himself before the negatives were binned).

Goofs:

Continuity: After the cousin is forced out at the first visit, Bella and Paul are talking. Her hands are in her lap, but then right hand jumps to neck/face.

Quotes:

Nancy the Parlour Maid: Very well, you shall be master for a bit longer.

Movie Connections:

Version of Gas Light (1939) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Can-Can

Stop titivating yourself, come on.

What a crisp, deeply rooted thriller Thorold Dickinson created. With vile creatures (Paul) and goofy policemen and maids, we are easily captured into the world of the Mallens. Diana Wynyard does a spectacular job as Bella, giving us the right amount of insecurity coupled with fear. She is the true victim of this film and Dickinson does not let us forget that. Wynyard is nearly overshadowed by my favorite character of the film, Paul Mallen, played with so much evil by Anton Walbrook. I have seen several films in my life, and I must say that Walbrook ranks among some of the most sinister villains of them all. He has no super powers, just the ability to manipulate Bella mentally, proving that he is stronger than her. He thrives on Bella's insecurities and makes them into his greatest form of punishment. These two working together really transformed this 40s thriller into something concrete and powerful. It is the dynamic between the two that kept me glued to my seat and continually asking for more.

Coupled with the superb acting is the creativeness of Dickinson and his writer A.R. Rowlinson. Together they set the mood with darkened corners and alleyways with that constantly looming feeling that the events are going to get grittier down the road. This team made Victorian London a spooky place to visit at night. They make Bella the victim throughout this entire film, making even me wonder if she really was slowly going mad. It isn't until the end that the truth is revealed and even then we are left in suspense. It isn't until the credits roll is the film over, and that is hard to accomplish for directors of the thriller genre today. Dickinson proved that he could handle all the elements with the greatest of ease and bring them to the screen in a film that would last the test of time. I am not embarrassed to show this film to friends because I do believe that they would see the value in this production.

Grade: ***** out of *****