TCM Presents...Gaslight

Title: Gaslight (1944)

Director: George Cukor

Screenwriter(s): John Van Druten, Walter Reisch, & John L. Balderston

Producer: Arthur Hornblow, Jr.

Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

In Theaters: May 4^th, 1944

Run Time: 114 minutes

Color: B&W

Starring: Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten, & Angela Lansbury

Genre(s): drama/mystery/thriller

Storyline: Paula’s aunt Alice Alquist, a famous entertainer, is murdered in her home. Paula, who lives with her aunt finds the body. Police fail to find the killer and Paula is sent away to school. Ten years later, Paula returns to London with her new husband. They take up residence in her aunt’s house, which she has inherited. Paula is increasingly isolated by her husband but does come to the attention of an admirerer of her aunt, Mr. Brian Cameron.Written by Sandra Douglass

Movie Trailer: 

My Review: I can’t remember ever seeing an Ingrid Bergman movie I enjoyed so much, because of her! Casablanca I love because of Humphrey Bogart, of course. But with the mystery of Gaslight and the way she portrayed her character, I see why she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1944. I must say the movie seemed all too predictable at first. I mean, you know instantly that he’s messing with her mind trying to make her think she’s going crazy. What I don’t realize is there is much more behind his reasonings for her hearing the noises going on upstairs. It’s a brilliantly written script because it allows the audience to interact with a mystery movie that not many are capable of doing today. I find a movie that claims to be of mystery and suspense to be of the highest caliber when it it able to allow me to guess what’s coming next yet still find me totally stumped once the twist of an ending is revealed. If a movie can do that, it can easily stand the test of time, therefore, entering into the realm of a classic.

This is my first Charles Boyer film and I must say he is NOTHING like how he is made out to be in that classic I Love Lucy episode. But I suppose he was supposed to be making fun of himself as well. I can see why he might have had quite a female following although, compared to other actors coming from that time period, I wouldn’t consider him among the best of them.

Angela Lansbury’s part in all this, while funny, at times, confused me very much. I wasn’t sure if she was working for him, in that she knew his scheme all along for making his wife believe she was going mad? Or not? I think they could have done more with not just her, but with her character, that it fell flat for me, when after all the fuss was made over how she felt about Ingrid Bergman’s character, they don’t pursue the storyline. Especially, when they also make it a point to mention that she’s been seeing the police constable on the beat of that neighborhood during her off hours.

This is definitely a movie I will see over and over and over again, knowing I will see something new I didn’t see the first time around. Don’t you love when a movie can do that?

Have you ever seen Gaslight? Either this version or the 1940 British version that MGM famously tried to buy the rights of and then burn before it made it to the U.S.?

My Rating: ★★★★★

Original Article

Casablanca (1942) (Movie Review)

Title: Casablanca

Director: Michael Curtiz

Screenwriters: Julius J. & Philip G. Epstein, Howard Koch, Casey Robinson

Producer: Hal B. Wallis

Distributor: Warner Bros.

Production Company: Warner Bros.

In Theaters: November 26th, 1942

Run Time: 102 minutes

Color: Black and White

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Claude Rains

Genre(s): drama/romance/war

Storyline: In World War II Casablanca, Rick Blaine, exiled American and former freedom fighter, runs the most popular nightspot in town. The cynical lone wolf Blaine comes into the possession of two valuable letters of transit. When Nazi Major Strasser arrives in Casablanca, the sycophantic police Captain Renault does what he can to please him, including detaining Czech underground leader Victor Laszlo. Much to Rick’s surprise, Lazslo arrives with Ilsa, Rick’s one time love. Rick is very bitter towards Ilsa, who ran out on him in Paris, but when he learns she had good reason to, they plan to run off together again using the letters of transit. Well, that was their original plan…. Written by Gary Jackson

Movie Trailer:



My Review: I have seen this movie dozens of times. But none of those times moved me to near tears and utter joy than when I got to watch this movie on the big screen. The best part was of course the movie but the added bonus was the special introduction from none other than Robert Osbourne. If you’ve EVER watched a movie on TCM (Turner Classic Movies) then you know exactly who that is. He is the be all and end all of interesting facts about all “older” movies. But back to Casablanca! If you’ve never seen this movie and saw it for the first time on the big screen just how amazed were you? And if you missed it, I highly recommend seeing it, even if it’s on your 1080p HDTV. On any size screen it will do the trick. If you’re not moved to watch more black & white movies, at the very least, more Humphrey Bogart movies (I recommend Key Largo!) then I throw up my hands in disbelief!

This movie has more “money-maker” lines than ANY movie I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen plenty! Some catchy phrases that I’m sure you’ve heard used in other movies or sitcoms would be:

“Here’s lookin’ at you kid.”
“Play it again Sam.”
“Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine.”
“Kiss me…kiss me as if it were the last time.”
“Round up the usual suspects.”
“Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

And one of my MANY favorites: “Who are you really, and what were you before? What did you do and what did you think?”

This movie appeals to both men and women. The men get the satisfaction of war, a “hot woman” (for that time period of course), and a leading man who was respected by men and helplessly fawned over by women. It’s obvious why women love this movie as well. It’s the quintessential romance movie. There is a real sense of love and loss from the main characters but also from the co-stars as well. I’d be so bold to say Humphrey Bogart’s portrayal of Rick is the smoothest, coolest, and yet right amount of weakness I’ve ever seen in a character. You don’t see acting like THIS anymore. Every character, every line (spoken and unspoken) were necessary and delivered with such dedication I’m amazed it did not sweep EVERY award it was nominated for. Best of all, although this movie takes place during WWII, a time when people were truly afraid for their lives and would do just about anything to escape to “the free world” (America), this movie is filled with a necessary humor. The balance of war, patriotism, romance, history and humor is amazingly executed.

The best part about watching this movie in the movie theater were those around me. We laughed together, we clapped together. Lines I heard dozens of times before came alive when I was in the company of strangers who felt the same way I did, in awe of this masterpiece. There were many moments of clapping before the movie started and when the movie finished, but the most memorable for us all would be when Rick was talking to Major Strasser:

Heinze: Can you imagine us in London?
Rick: When you get there, ask me.
Renault: Diplomatist.
Strasser: Well, how about New York?
Rick: Well, there are certain sections of New York, Major, that I wouldn’t advise you to try to invade.

My Rating: A+

Will you…Run And Tell That?