Gaslight
| Program section: | British Noir Strikes Back |
|---|---|
| Directed by: | Thorold Dickinson |
| Year: | 1940 |
| Country: | Great Britain |
| Length: | 84 min. |
Screening:
- 19. 8. 2026 | 17:30 - Central Bohemia Hall (castle - gothic kitchen) / CZ SDH /
- 22. 8. 2026 | 10:00 - LoGyn Hall (castle - western room) / CZ SDH /
Production: British National Films
Script/Based on: Patrick Hamilton. A.R. Rawlinson, Bridget Boland
Director of Photography: Bernard Knowles
Score: Richard Adinsell
It all began with Patrick Hamilton’s play Gas Light, which premiered in London in December 1938. Its positive reception attracted the interest of film producers, leading to a film adaptation that was released in theaters as early as June 1940. Directed by Thorold Dickinson, the film became a gripping thriller about a young bride, Bella, who moves with her husband into a deserted villa where a brutal murder had taken place some time ago. In this ominous setting, Bella’s already fragile mental health begins to deteriorate further when – seemingly for no reason – the gas lights in the house go out and objects vanish without a trace. The better-known 1944 Hollywood adaptation of the same material was made with a larger budget and a star-studded cast (Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer, Joseph Cotten); however, the British version tells the story at least as compellingly and more faithfully to the original. (mh)
