USA | 1944 | 114 min | PG
Years after her aunt was murdered in her home, a young woman moves back into the house with her new husband. However, he has a secret that he will do anything to protect, even if it means driving his wife insane.
Director: George Cukor
Cast: Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten, Angela Lansbury
ABOUT THE RENDEVOUS WITH MADNESS REVUE SERIES
DETAILS
It took some decades before George Cukor’s gothic suspenser GASLIGHT, based on Patrick Hamilton’s 1938 play, became something other than a sturdy example of Oscar-certified studio movie-making.
Among the hottest and most contentious of mental health talking points, GASLIGHT is today used by countless more people who haven’t seen the movie than have. But see it they should, because this story of a conniving Euro-smoothie (Charles Boyer), who marries the vulnerable (and Oscar-winning) Ingrid Bergman in order to convince her she’s going crazy — there are jewels involved, but never mind — is not only a superb example of sumptuously staged, golden era studio film making, the phenomenon it describes is now universally recognized as a means of insidiously asserting psychological control over a weaker will.
While gas lighting continues to be a troubling phenomenon in the intimate domestic sphere, it’s also applied to subliminal manipulation practiced in politics, advertising and a major pop cultural plot point. (Think Homeland, Westworld or Jessica Jones.) Come see where it all started, and stick around for a lively discussion of why ‘gas lighting’ is such an unshakeable twenty-first century fixation. No, you’re not crazy. You just haven’t seen Gaslight yet.
Film screening followed by a discussion with journalist, Carly Lewis, moderated by RWM Programmer Geoff Pevere.
PRICING
General Admission: $13
Bronze/Loyalty Members, Students & Seniors: $10
Silver Members: $9
Gold/Individual/Family Members: FREE