Das Haus der Lady Alquist (1944)

Das Haus der Lady Alquist: Directed by George Cukor. With Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten, May Whitty. 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.

“This American-made version of the English thriller u0026quot;Gaslightu0026quot; is well-crafted and well-acted, with many moments of good suspense and tension.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIngrid Bergman and Charles Boyer work very well in the two leads, and they get considerable help from the rest of the cast and the production.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe character of the fragile, self-doubting Paula is an ideal role for Bergman, who conveys Paulau0026#39;s anxious uncertainty while keeping her sympathetic and even engaging. Boyer likewise comes across very believably as her calculating husband, and the two leads make their characters into a strong foundation for the tense story.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eJoseph Cotten does not really seem as if he could be a Scotland Yard detective, but in a more general way, he succeeds pretty well as a sympathetic policeman who wants to help personally while striving to get at the facts of the matter. A very young Angela Lansbury gives her character some pointed moments, and she becomes a useful part of creating the right atmosphere.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe story does, of course, have some less plausible elements, but it is written carefully enough that the seams rarely show. In fact, it seems to have been constructed rather carefully, so as to provide subtle hints that can be made use of later on. It all makes for a satisfying drama that also provides a pretty good showcase for its stars.”