After the murder of her aunt, Paula Alquist (Ingrid Bergman) leaves London for Italy to start a new life. While there, she falls in love with the charming Gregory Anton (Charles Boyer). They marry and return to London where Paula begins to notice strange goings-on: missing pictures, strange footsteps in the night, and gaslights that dim without being touched. As she fights to retain her sanity, her new husband's intentions come into question.A classic for a reason. If you only know the term "gaslight" but not where it came from, then you need to watch this movie. If, like me, you haven't seen it for a very long time, then you are overdue for a rewatch.
All the actors are simply wonderful at conveying mood and mindset through much more than words. The director's masterful use of light and shadow makes the most of the black and white format. Note the sequences outside the bedroom doors where the shadows of the railings fall across the people, looking like jail cell bars. And the clothes - by Irene - are glorious.
My favorite character was Miss Thwaites, the nosy old lady who lived across the square and was dying to get into the house where a murder had happened. She added much needed comic relief and we all adored her.
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