Gaslight (1944)

My next look at those born a century ago is Ingrid Bergman, who was born in Sweden in 1915. She is one of Hollywood's greatest stars, and went through quite a scandal (she was denounced on the floor of Congress). The first of her three Oscars went for her dazzling performance in George Cukor's Gaslight in 1944.

This was a remake of a British film, and it fleshes the story out and is much more accomplished, particularly in areas like art direction and photography. Joseph Ruttenberg handles the latter, and in many ways it follows the dictates of noir, even though it is set during Victorian England. But Ruttenberg understands the title, and uses the lighting to magnificent effect. I really liked one scene in which a quarreling couple heads into a room. The camera does not follow them but stays in the hall, and we see their shadows gesticulating against the door.

The plot is pretty much the same as the original. A famous opera singer is murdered. Her niece (Bergman) is sent to live in Italy. She meet and falls in love with Charles Boyer. He has always wanted to live in London, so she reveals that she has her aunt's house, so they marry and move in. But soon she begins to forget things. Of course, it's the husband who is behind this, trying to drive her mad. The why is what keeps us in suspense.

The leads are terrific. Boyer is great as he slowly goes from super nice guy to menacing ogre. Bergman, as one would expect in Oscar-winning role, is gripping. She is vulnerable and your heart aches for her, knowing that she's being played. Her scene when she confronts Boyer at the end, holding a knife, is magical. The reliable Joseph Cotten plays a Scotland Yard inspector (curiously without an English accent) who senses something is rotten. Dame May Whitty is colorful as a nosy neighbor.

In some ways this is a quintessential Hollywood film from the war period. They made dozens of these, and pros like Cukor could be relied upon to a put a thoroughly professional stamp on them. Gaslight provides atmospheric terror and the right amount of paranoia. It's a classy production all the way around.