Gaslight (1940)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

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 | Driven Mad | Murder | Paranoia | Pianist

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

Colour:

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:

Lady Winterbourne: I trust the stool is right.
Pianist: Thank you.

Movie Connections:

Version of Angel Street (1946) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Can-Can

"Creates an air of electric tension that Hollywood could only envy."

In Victorian London, Louis Bower (Walbrook), murdered his aunt for her precious rubies that are hidden somewhere in her house, only he couldn't find them. Having eluded the police for a number of years and changed his name to Paul Mallen, he takes a wife in the fragile Bella (Wynyard), and the couple move back into the house so that he can continue his search under cover as a respectable Victorian husband. At the same time he tries to drive his wife out of her mind because he is afraid that she might discover his guilty secret...

The first film version of Patrick Hamilton's successful stage play is technically modest compared to the 1944 Hollywood remake (see my review), but this British National production directed by Thorold Dickinson creates an atmosphere of genuine electric tension that Hollywood could only envy. Hardly surprising really that they tried to destroy the negative of this picture. Fortunately prints have survived and it often turns up on TCM every few months. Good performances too, especially from Walbrook who portrays the villain as a vile Victorian bully whereas Charles Boyer played it smooth. Wynyard does well as the tortured wife while Cathleen Cordell is fine as the tarty parlour maid whom Walbrook uses to add insult to his wife's injury.

The film was available in the UK on VHS but it has since been deleted, although the Hollywood version is out on DVD. Let's hope this version finds it's way on to DVD too.