GASLIGHT
UK, 1940, 80 minutes, Black and white.
Anton Walbrook, Diana Wynyard.
Directed by Thorold Dickenson.
The first film adaptation of Patrick Hamilton's atmospheric Victorian play. The film had a chequered history - when M.G.M. decided to refilm it in 1943, through legal deals, the negative and copy were to be destroyed. Fortunately, they were not and the film still circulates. The remake was the big budget M.G.M. version with Ingrid Bergman (winning her first Oscar), Charles Boyer, Joseph Cotten and Angela Lansbury, directed by George Cukor. This version is briefer, reflects the styles of British filmmaking in the thirties - smaller budget work, different lighting, less affluent sets and decor. Nevertheless, within its limitations it has a lot of atmosphere, fluidity of camera movement, effective editing, and a screen play of menace laced with touches of humour.
Anton Walbrook is as effective as Charles Boyer in the menacing central role and Diana Wynyard has charm and wins audience sympathy in her persecution. Frank Peddingell is excellent as the former policeman who solves the mystery. Direction is by Thorold Dickenson, who made few films - The Next Of Kin and the adaptation of Pushkin's Queen Of Spades, again with Walbrook and Dame Edith Evans.
1. An interesting and entertaining Victorian melodrama? Psychological thriller? Thriller of suspense and menace?
2. British production values of the thirties - black and white photography, sets, decor and costumes? The creation of atmosphere? Camera movements to guide the audience in their response? Musical score? A comparison with the M.G.M. version?
3. The title, the initial and final images? The gas lit atmosphere of London suggesting the Victorian era? The light and shade in this Victorian world?
4. The prologue and the brutality of the murder and its pervading the rest of the film? Making Paul's menace credible? The suggestion of mystery?
5. The presentation of Pimlico Square - the house, the changing of the seasons, the sale and the reopening? Life in the Square - Ella and her walk, encounter with the children? The encounter with Mr Rough? Nancy and her boyfriends? The other houses, roofs and entrances to attics? A Victorian atmosphere for this particular plot?
6. Paul and Bella taking up residence? Their relationship? Early indications of Paul's treatment of Bella and atmosphere of menace? His foreign accent? The audience being in the know about what was happening? The various incidents to persecute Bella - the picture and her finding it on the staircase, Paul's hiding her brooch? His cruel reproaches and her suffering, headaches? Her love for him? His reproving her before the servants? The continued pressures and her appeals? The build-up to the enjoyment of the concert and his tricking her with the watch? Indications of the reason for this - and her knowing his real name?
7. The portrait of Bella - a charming woman, in love with her husband, her pain and suffering, her obeying her husband, not doubting him? The enjoyment of the walk, the encounter with Mr. Rough and buying things for the children - abruptly interrupted by Paul's arrival? Her cousin's arrival and missing him? Alone in the house with the gaslight flickering, the sounds in the roof? The concert and its being spoilt? the maids and their attitudes towards her? Her being rebuked before them - the swearing on the Bible? Audience sympathy for her in her plight?
8. The character of Rough - genial and elderly ex-policeman - interest in the house, in Paul and knowing his identity? Seeking clues? His assistant and getting his aid especially with Nancy? The encounter with Bella in the park, the treating of the children to cakes? Writing letters to Vincent and getting him to interview Paul? The ironic humour of his own self-praise? The confrontation with Bella? Persuading her of the truth? Hiding in the house and confronting Paul? A rounded character of a genial saviour figure?
9. Rough's assistant - his help, his love for Nancy and using this for helping Bella? Nancy and her place in the house and her flirting? Elizabeth and her service of Bella? Vincent and his disapproval of the marriage, his being ordered from the house by Paul?
10. Paul and his attachment to Nancy, his weakness, Nancy and her flirting? Her going out with various boyfriends? Nancy flaunting herself at home, her being taken to the music hall - and, the atmosphere of the music hall and the different style of appreciation by Nancy and Paul? Her attitude towards Bella at the end?
11. Paul and his cruelty, Victorian respectable surface, cruel below the surface? His sadism? His return from the music hall, the summoning of Bella? The fight with Rough and with Vincent? His gloating over the rubies while tied up? Bella and the taunting of him about her madness with the knife? Her being freed finally from her torment?
12. The atmosphere of the thriller and its entertainment value? A reflection on superficial respectability, 19th century surface contrasting with interiors? Satisfying personal drama? Crime and greed? Power and manipulation, cruelty and freedom?
