Gas Lighting - a form of mental abuse in which false information is presented with the intent of making a victim doubt his or her own memory perception and sanity. - WikipediaLast night Dave and I watched the excellent film "Gas Light" on Turner Classic Movies. Ingrid Bergman won her first Academy Award for this scary film, made in 1944. At that time Charles Boyer was the great Hollywood lover so his part as a creepy psychopath was different from his usual leading roles.
In "Gas Light" Boyer plays Ingrid's husband who attempts to drive her insane by doing the things listed above. One example is that he regularly turns the gas lights lower and higher in order to make her feel unstable - hence the title.
It's a very good psychological thriller.
The movie also stars Joseph Cotton and Angela Landsbury. Boyer, Bergman and Cotten are long gone but Landsbury is still a star on Broadway. Who would have thought that this not very attractive 17 year old playing a sassy maid would have a 70 year long career in show business?
After the movie TCM host Robert Osborne, discussed it with Drew Barrymore. Drew said that, when she was in her twenties, her therapist made her watch this movie - because Drew was in a toxic relationship where she was being "gaslighted." This is a term I'd never heard before last night.
Who would have thought I'd learn something new and worthwhile from Drew Barrymore?"
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