What It's About:

In Victorian era Europe, wealthy heiress Paula Alquist (Bergman) settles into her long-abandoned childhood home to Thornton Square in London, accompanied by new husband Gregory Anton (Boyer). Once there, valuable items go missing, Gregory grows cruel and starts accusing Paula- first of losing her memory, and then her mind. Fortunately, Scotland Yard detective Brian Cameron (Cotten) senses that something nefarious is going on, and quietly investigates. But can he discover the truth before Paula suffers irreparable harm?

Why I Love It:

This lavish, eerie remake of the 1940 British psychological thriller is fully worthy of its distinguished predecessor, thanks to the wily interventions of MGM head Louis B. Mayer, who oversaw the production. Bergman is a vision of luminous grace and beauty, but fragile, too, as a beautiful socialite who has every reason to feel troubled. Anton, a schemer who's wed Paula for ulterior motives, is played with sinister aplomb by Boyer. Of course, one of the great pleasures of this Gothic melodrama is watching the tart-tongued debut of Angela Lansbury, playing Boyer's flinty, flirtatious young maid. "Gaslight" is a petulant puzzler with a chilling climax. (Note: This would bring Ingrid her first Oscar.)