In 1944 George Cukor brought us the most influential film of my life. It is a movie that I would marvel at as a pre-teen and teen, relish as a young adult and cherish in my adulthood. I often reminisce about it and thoroughly enjoy using the slang phrase of terminology that came from it’s title.

The film is ‘Gaslight’.

Keep in mind that I am referring to the ever classic 1944 version of the film NOT the 1940 version which was no where near as good and is often titled alternatively, ‘Murder In Thornton Square’. Unfortunately I find more clips of the latter and can only provide a few good solid clips of the first 40 minutes of the film broken into segments that are just under 10 minutes long.

The version that I am completely infatuated with stars Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer, and an 18 year old making her film debut, Miss Angela Landsbury.

I remember my mother watching classic black and white movies as she fell asleep and while she slept all while I was growing up. This trend would be interrupted from time to time by her viewing of the 24 hour news cycle but mostly it would be classic Black and Whites all night long.

It permeated our childhoods so much that we even had a dog named Akim Tamaroff.

Lady had never seen ‘Gaslight’ and it played today as we lounged around the abode. A perfect Sunday afternoon respite from the regular trash television that is normally purveyed.

There are classic lines in this film from all the characters. Whether it is Charles Boyer’s thick creepy French/Mexican accent when he says, “Paula” or the Scotland yard detective saying the line , “Jewels. Famous Jewels!”, all the lines make for a great take on reality; not only in the time it was filmed but the latter 19^th century when it is supposed to have taken place.

A classic is watching the neighbor woman who is initially met on the train in Italy with delectable cookies. Her comments to the flowers and pigeons in the park are classic. Everyone loves a fat busy body who talks to flowers and pigeons! She is truly a gem beyond the ones being searched for. Her closing reactions in every scene she is in are priceless!

The term ‘Gaslight’ has come to represent someone driving another crazy via bizarre slights of hand and confidence jobs that are convincing and not identifiable due to love and desperation. I am sure that many of us have been ‘Gaslighted’ before and probably will be again. Hell, we are all ‘Gaslighted’ on this here BS quite often, but not so much anymore.

Onto the movie clips.

I guess it is good that the end of the film is not shown in my little escapade into movie time as it would ruin the whole experience you could have with it if you were watching at home or with a date or some friends. There are many twists and turns to be had and it is definitely worth seeing. If you have never seen it, go watch! Here is the beginning half of the movie:

Second ten minutes:

Third ten minutes:

Final part of the four I could find:

If you just watched those and you are digging it than you need, MUST, go rent it or watch it somehow, someway.

Something about it makes me long for other days, days that maybe weren’t so long ago.

Watching it with my mom at 2 a.m. and having a snack. Talking about it to girlfriends at University. Seeing it for the first time and becoming obsessed with deep voiced men who pronounce things weird. Falling madly, lustfully, perversely in love with Angela Landsbury. Playing drinking games that revolve around Charles Boyer saying 'Paula' the way that he does!

No matter what or why, it is worth the watch.

If any of you check it out, let me know.

Be good and smile.

Nostalgia says to say, Godspeed …