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IMDbPro

Gaslight

  • 19401940
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 24m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
4.6K
YOUR RATING
Anton Walbrook and Diana Wynyard in Gaslight (1940)
  • Mystery
  • Thriller
Twenty years after the murder of Alice Barlow, her house is finally occupied again. However, the husband from the couple who have moved in has a secret which he will do anything to keep hidd... Read allTwenty years after the murder of Alice Barlow, her house is finally occupied again. However, the husband from the couple who have moved in has a secret which he will do anything to keep hidden.Twenty years after the murder of Alice Barlow, her house is finally occupied again. However, the husband from the couple who have moved in has a secret which he will do anything to keep hidden.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
4.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Thorold Dickinson
  • Writers
    • Patrick Hamilton(from the stage play by)
    • A.R. Rawlinson(screenplay)
    • Bridget Boland(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Anton Walbrook
    • Diana Wynyard
    • Frank Pettingell
Top credits
  • Director
    • Thorold Dickinson
  • Writers
    • Patrick Hamilton(from the stage play by)
    • A.R. Rawlinson(screenplay)
    • Bridget Boland(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Anton Walbrook
    • Diana Wynyard
    • Frank Pettingell
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 82User reviews
    • 28Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos1351

    Gaslight (1940)
    Diana Wynyard in Gaslight (1940)
    Anton Walbrook in Gaslight (1940)
    Anton Walbrook in Gaslight (1940)
    Diana Wynyard in Gaslight (1940)
    Frank Pettingell and Diana Wynyard in Gaslight (1940)
    Anton Walbrook in Gaslight (1940)
    Anton Walbrook and Diana Wynyard in Gaslight (1940)
    Anton Walbrook and Diana Wynyard in Gaslight (1940)
    Diana Wynyard in Gaslight (1940)
    Diana Wynyard in Gaslight (1940)
    Diana Wynyard in Gaslight (1940)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Anton Walbrook
    Anton Walbrook
    • Paul Mallenas Paul Mallen
    Diana Wynyard
    Diana Wynyard
    • Bella Mallenas Bella Mallen
    Frank Pettingell
    Frank Pettingell
    • Roughas Rough
    Cathleen Cordell
    Cathleen Cordell
    • Nancyas Nancy
    Robert Newton
    Robert Newton
    • Ullswateras Ullswater
    Jimmy Hanley
    Jimmy Hanley
    • Cobbas Cobb
    Minnie Rayner
    Minnie Rayner
    • Elizabethas Elizabeth
    Marie Wright
    • Alice Barlowas Alice Barlow
    Aubrey Dexter
    Aubrey Dexter
    • House Agentas House Agent
    Mary Hinton
    Mary Hinton
    • Lady Winterbourneas Lady Winterbourne
    Angus Morrison
    Angus Morrison
    • Pianistas Pianist
    Jack Barty
    Jack Barty
    • Chairman of Music Hallas Chairman of Music Hall
    The Darmora Ballet
    • Dancersas Dancers
    Alfred Atkins
    • Bit Roleas Bit Role
    • (uncredited)
    Edwin Ellis
    • Bit Roleas Bit Role
    • (uncredited)
    Kathleen Harrison
    Kathleen Harrison
    • Bit Roleas Bit Role
    • (uncredited)
    Katie Johnson
    Katie Johnson
    • Alice Barlow's Maidas Alice Barlow's Maid
    • (uncredited)
    Molly Raynor
    • Bit Roleas Bit Role
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Thorold Dickinson
    • Writers
      • Patrick Hamilton(from the stage play by)
      • A.R. Rawlinson(screenplay)
      • Bridget Boland(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When MGM remade the film with Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman, the studio attempted to have all prints of this earlier version destroyed. Fortunately, several prints escaped the fire (in fact, it is believed that director Thorold Dickinson surreptitiously struck a print himself before the negative was lost).
    • Goofs
      After the murder of the old lady in 1865, a police constable is shown blowing a whistle to summon assistance. Whistles were not used by the Metropolitan Police until the 1870s; prior to that they used a football rattle to attract attention.
    • Quotes

      Elizabeth: Stop titivating yourself, come on.

    • Connections
      Referenced in The Others (2001)
    • Soundtracks
      The Can-Can
      (uncredited)

      from "Orpheus in the Underworld"

      Music by Jacques Offenbach

      Arranged by Richard Addinsell

      Played at the music hall and danced to by The Darmora Ballet

    User reviews82

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    In the shadow of the later version, but doesn't deserve to be
    It is inevitable that this 1940 film and the 1944 "remake" with Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman are going to be compared, and people will have different opinions as to which is the better version.

    To me, both 'Gaslight' films are great in their own way, and this reviewer ranks them equally, yet with one or two things in things that are done better in the other. Like the 1944 film (the only real drawback to that film was the uneven performance of Joseph Cotton), there is very little wrong here. The secondary characters could have been better fleshed out, and while Richard Adinsell's music score is suitably ominous Bonislau Kaper's score for the later version has more atmosphere, subtlety and tension.

    However, while not as glossy as the later film 'Gaslight' (1940) regardless is incredibly well-made. It's shot beautifully and menacingly, is hauntingly lit and has sets that are picturesque yet give off a great amount of dread while over-stating it. It's intelligently and suspensefully directed by then-famous-and-well-regarded, now-almost-forgotten (undeservedly) Thorald Dickinson.

    The script is thought-provoking and tense, everything feels relevant to what's going on and nothing seemed padded. Tighter-paced and more theatrical somewhat, the story never creaks and is leaden with tension and suspense with nothing obvious that came over as unnecessary or clumsy.

    Performances are great here and hardly inferior to those in the later film, despite being less familiar. Anton Walbrook, while not as subtle as Charles Boyer, is terrifying and a huge part as to why the film is as atmospheric as it is. Diana Wynward demonstrates Bella's vulnerability incredibly movingly with no histrionics and she's hardly dull either (though the character has more range and depth to her in the 1944 version).

    Frank Petingell looks more comfortable than Joseph Cotton, his performance is more even (though Cotton was hardly bad), the character is better written and he is more believable as a police officer (where Cotton's performance particularly fell down on). Robert Newton is a strong presence in an early role, and Cathleen Cordell is a hoot as Nancy.

    All in all, despite being in the shadow of the 1944 'Gaslight' in popularity the earlier 1940 film doesn't deserve to be, because it is every bit as great. 9/10 Bethany Cox
    helpful•15
    2
    • TheLittleSongbird
    • Jun 9, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 10, 1952 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Angel Street
    • Filming locations
      • D&P Studios, Denham, Uxbridge, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
    • Production company
      • British National Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 24 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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