Gaslight Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Gaslight Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Randy Miller III July 2, 2019

Director George Cukor’s Gaslight is the second adaptation of Patrick Hamilton’s play of the same name, not that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer wanted 1944 audiences to know anything about the first one. Thorold Dickinson’s excellent 1940 British adaptation was swept under the rug by MGM after they snapped up the remake rights, which included a strict clause that all existing prints be destroyed, as well as its original camera negative. Although new prints were thankfully made in secret (and MGM obviously loosened its stance in later decades), this brazen level of manipulation and control ends up mirroring the film itself: if left unchecked, powerful figures are capable of monstrous bullying tactics.

Gaslight's source story has another claim to fame, but only if you're interested in word origins. The title phrase remains in full effect during this gripping and well-acted production, which explores the tumultuous marriage shared by singer Paula Anton (Ingrid Bergman) and her pianist husband Gregory (Charles Boyer) after a two-week romance in Italy. Upon returning to her hometown of London, Gregory insists that they live in the house of her late aunt Alice, a famous opera singer; this is the first of many decisions she reluctantly goes along with, and it's all downhill from here. Paula's discovery of a letter to her aunt from "Sergis Bauer" provokes a violent outburst from Gregory. Her personal belongings are moved to the attic. Several items go missing -- an heirloom brooch, a framed picture -- with Gregory insistant that Paula has been deliberately hiding them. Soon enough, she starts hearing noises in their stately home and notices the dimming lights that are, apparently, all in her head. According to Gregory, poor Paula is going mad.

MGM's remake enjoyed a much higher budget than the 1940 original, with most of it spent on production design and big-name actors. Boyer, best known for the title role in Julien Duvivier's Pépé le Moko (also a remake), brought a great deal of star power...along with a contract clause that included top billing. Ingrid Bergman, who won an Oscar for her performance and was only two years removed from Casablanca, was so eager for the role that she agreed to this clause (much to the disapproval of David O. Selznick, who loaned her to MGM while still under contract). Supporting roles are filled out by Joseph Cotten (whose five-decade filmography includes Citizen Kane, The Third Man, and Heaven's Gate), Dame May Whitty (The Lady Vanishes), and newcomer Angela Lansbury, who celebrated her 18th birthday during filming. Yet like both earlier iterations, the real draw of Gaslight is its chillingly effective way of exploring the depths of domestic abuse in one of its most inhuman forms: convincing a victim that everything is their fault.

Originally released on DVD by Warner Bros. back in 2004 as a double-feature disc with Dickinson's 1940 adaptation, George Cukor's Gaslight is once again given center stage in Warner Archive Collection's new Blu-ray. Their striking new restoration easily outpaces WB's earlier disc although the 1940 film, included as a bonus feature, has unfortunately not been restored as well. (More on that later.) For now, let's appreciate what we get here: a near-complete upgrade of an already great package, and one that easily stands alongside Warner Archive's best discs released this year.

NOTE: Screenshots #21-25 are from Thorold Dickinson’s 1940 adaptation of "Gaslight".

Gaslight Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Sourced from Warner Archive Collection's recent 4K scan of a second-generation safety fine-grain master positive (corrected from an earlier statement misidentifying the source elements), Gaslight looks uniformly stunning on this new Blu-ray edition. Aside from an extremely hazy opening sequence, subsequent levels of fine detail and texture remain consistent during the remainder of the film. Of course the daytime outdoor scenes and well-lit interiors are going to look great, but even a few nighttime London shots -- shrouded in dense fog and shadows only illuminated by gaslight -- hold their own as well, boasting a strong and satisfying grain structure that gives everything a distinctly film-like appearance. Black levels remain relatively consistent with very little flickering, while contrast levels and whites hold up without falling victim to crush or blooming. The film also enjoys a very healthy bit rate and displays no obvious signs of compression artifacts, aliasing, banding, edge enhancement, or other notable defects. As usual, this is an outstanding visual presentation that should absolutely thrill long-time fans and first-timers alike.

Gaslight Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Likewise, the DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio (Mono) mix does a fine job of preserving the film's one-channel roots from start to finish. Dialogue is extremely clean and crisp with no discernible audio sync issues or other defects, contributing to a robust overall listening experience that sounds about as good as its source material will allow. Although very heavy on atmospheric visuals, Gaslight doesn't typically employ a steady amount of Bronisław Kaper's original score to maintain its tension -- but when it kicks in, it maintains a relatively strong dynamic range that isn't hampered by a thin high end. Like its video presentation, this lossless track makes Gaslight sound a good bit younger than it really is.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during the main feature(s) only. Unfortunately, they're bright yellow and formatted in ALL CAPS -- except when a character is whispering. (Which technically makes sense, but...)

Gaslight Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Warner Archive Collection's Blu-ray edition of Gaslight is packaged in a standard keepcase. All of the on-disc bonus features have all been ported over from WB's excellent 2004 DVD along with a "new" 1946 radio broadcast.

• Original 1940 British Version (1:23:57) - This earlier film adaptation, directed by Thorold Dickinson, stars Anton Walbrook and Diana Wynyard in the lead roles (here named "Paul" and "Bella"). More differences abound, including a slightly darker and more suspenseful tone that even extends to the ending. It's great to compare and contrast both versions, and I'd imagine there are more than a few folks who greatly prefer Dickinson's 1940 adaptation to Cukor's 1944 remake. Please note that, while this film is presented in standard definition with no additional cleanup, it at least gets a bump to DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio and includes optional English subtitles. Die-hard fans should seek out BFI's fully restored Region B Blu-ray if they haven't already.

• Reflections On Gaslight (13:50) is a featurette hosted by Pia Lindstrom, daughter of actress Ingrid Bergman. It's a very casual and chatty piece that covers a decent amount of ground including Bergman's casting, the film debut of Angela Lansbury (who also appears on camera and speaks about her experiences on set), visiting a mental institution for research, George Cukor's direction, and more. Plenty of clips from the finished film are also included, which gives fans another reason to appreciate Warner Archive Collection's recent restoration.

• Oscars for Movie Stars (1:32) serves up a small but enjoyable slice of 1944 Academy Awards newsreel footage dutifully narrated by John B. Kennedy. Featured celebrities include Gary Cooper, Bing Crosby, Jennifer Jones, Ingrid Bergman, and child actress Margaret O'Brien (still alive and working!).

• Theatrical Trailer (1:53) - An appropriately over-the-top piece of vintage marketing that highlights the cast and a few of their turbulent interactions. Also available here if you haven't seen the film yet.

• Lux Radio Theater Broadcast (59:40) - This special program, originally broadcast on April 29, 1946, features Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman reprising their roles. Unlike many public domain versions widely available on YouTube and elsewhere, this version is complete with an introduction by William Keighley, a brief post-show conversation with the cast, and multiple plugs for Lux Flakes. Won't modern housewives be grateful?

Gaslight Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

George Cukor's adaptation of Gaslight, like earlier versions and its source material, remains (regrettably) relevant in recent years. It's a chilling but necessary exploration of slow and steady domestic abuse that almost -- almost -- makes the viewer question their own sanity in the process. Whether you prefer this version or Thorold Dickinson's 1940 British film adaptation, both are included on Warner Archive Collection's excellent new Blu-ray. Although the latter's lack of restoration keeps this from being a perfect package, the main feature's terrific A/V specs and well-rounded extras make Gaslight an absolute no-brainer for established fans and curious newcomers alike. Very highly recommended!