Dir: George Cukor | Cast: Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer, Joseph Cotton, Angela Lansbury | US Drama 116’
Since the term ‘Galighting’ continues to be applied to the activities of politicians it needs no explanation despite that method of lighting hasn’t been used for over a hundred years. Here the expression applies to the psychological bullying applied to a married woman by her overbearing husband with the intention of driving her to a mental breakdown.
Although this lavish Hollywood remake pales by comparison with the original British version of Patrick Hamilton’s 1938 play directed by Thorold Dickinson (whose output was small but select), with Ingrid Bergman despite winning an Academy Award really far too robust for the persecuted wife and Charles Boyer lacking the sheer cold-hearted malice of Anton Walbrook; although Angela Lansbury makes a striking debut as Boyer’s bit on the side. @RichardChatten