History Film / Gaslight

* HoistByHisOwnPetard: As the page quote proudly demonstrates, Paula proudly turns Gregory's scheme to drive her to madness back on him.

''Gaslight'' is a 1944 PsychologicalThriller film directed by Creator/GeorgeCukor, [[TheFilmOfThePlay adapted from]] Patrick Hamilton's 1938 British play ''Gas Light'' (aka ''Angel Street)'',[[note]]it [[MarketBasedTitle ran on Broadway]] under the latter title[[/note]]. It stars Creator/IngridBergman in her first UsefulNotes/AcademyAward-winning performance, and features a very young Creator/AngelaLansbury in her film debut as the quirky maid Nancy, for which she was nominated for the [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAwardForBestActressInASupportingRole Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress]].

''Gaslight'' is a 1944 PsychologicalThriller film directed by Creator/GeorgeCukor, [[TheFilmOfThePlay adapted from]] Patrick Hamilton's 1938 British play ''Gas Light'' (aka ''Angel Street)'',[[note]]it [[MarketBasedTitle ran on Broadway]] under the latter title[[/note]]. It stars Creator/IngridBergman in her first UsefulNotes/AcademyAward-winning performance, and features a very young Creator/AngelaLansbury in her film debut as the quirky maid Nancy, for which was nominated for the [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAwardForBestActressInASupportingRole Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress]].

''Gaslight'' is a 1944 PsychologicalThriller film directed by Creator/GeorgeCukor, [[TheFilmOfThePlay adapted from]] Patrick Hamilton's 1938 British play ''Gas Light'' (aka ''Angel Street)'',[[note]]it [[MarketBasedTitle ran on Broadway]] under the latter title[[/note]] and starring Creator/IngridBergman in her first UsefulNotes/AcademyAward-winning performance.

She plays Paula, a young girl who lived with her aunt, a famous opera singer. One day, the aunt is suddenly murdered and robbed by the mysterious Sergius Bauer, leaving Paula alone. After studying abroad for the ten years since the incident, she returns to England with a new husband, Gregory (Creator/CharlesBoyer). But shortly afterwards, Gregory suddenly starts going out of his way to MindRape Paula.

A very young Creator/AngelaLansbury made her film debut as the quirky maid Nancy; she was nominated for the [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAwardForBestActressInASupportingRole Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress]].

[[TheFilmOfThePlay Adapted from]] Patrick Hamilton's 1938 British play ''Gas Light'' (aka ''Angel Street)'',[[note]]it [[MarketBasedTitle ran on Broadway]] under the latter title[[/note]] ''Gaslight'' is a 1944 PsychologicalThriller film directed by Creator/GeorgeCukor and starring Creator/IngridBergman in her first UsefulNotes/AcademyAward-winning performance.

A very young Creator/AngelaLansbury made her film debut as the quirky maid, Nancy; she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

* SleepingSingle: Paula and Gregory have separate rooms. TruthInTelevision as this was standard practice for upper class couples in this era.

* SleepingSingle: Paula and Gregory have separate rooms—of course, given Gregory's ulterior motives, this makes sense.

A very-young Creator/AngelaLansbury made her film debut as the quirky maid Nancy; the performance won her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. The film is notable for [[TropeNamers coining the term]] {{Gaslighting}}, a form of psychological abuse of which the film's plot is an example.

** Elizabeth and Nancy, the two servants, were hired specifically for traits that would isolate Paula even more; Elizabeth is hard of hearing and so legitimately ''wouldn't'' hear the footsteps in the attic that Paula did, while Nancy's flirty and rather disagreeable nature would alienate her from Paula.

* CatchPhrase: Miss Thwaites' "Well!" upon seeing something scandalous or rude.

Based on Patrick Hamilton's 1938 play ''Angel Street'', ''Gaslight'' is a 1944 PsychologicalThriller directed by Creator/GeorgeCukor and staring Creator/IngridBergman in her first Oscar-winning performance.

A very-young Creator/AngelaLansbury made her film debut as the quirky maid Nancy; the performance won her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. The film is notable for coining the term Main/{{Gaslighting}}, a form of psychological abuse of which the film's plot is an example.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gaslight_9216.jpg]]

* {{Gaslighting}}: The film is both the TropeMaker and TropeNamer. Gregory psychologically abuses Paula by secretively moving and stealing some objects to convince her that her mind is not well. It eventually gets to the point that Paula is unsure of her sanity when she sees some gas lamps unexplainably dim for no reason.

* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: Paula is a manipulated victim, mistaking Gregory for a well-meaning husband. Sadly TruthInTelevision, because abusers are excellent at putting on ''exactly'' the face they want their victims (and bystanders) to see. By the time Paula sees what Gregory is really like, she's ''married'' to him and doubting her own sanity.

-->'''Elizabeth:''' Yes sir, I see ''just'' how it is.

** Gregory also employs handpicked servants to facilitate his psychological abuse, but the servants in question are {{Unwitting Pawn}}s and unintentionally gaslight Paula because Gregory manipulated them into believing that Paula was insane. For example, Elizabeth only believes that Paula is hearing imaginary sounds because Elizabeth herself can't hear the same noises due to her partial deafness, which was taken into account by Gregory. Ironically, when Elizabeth does intentionally gaslight Paula, she does so [[CruelToBeKind to protect Paula from Gregory]].

* CruelToBeKind: When Gregory asks Elizabeth if anyone entered the house while he was gone, Elizabeth gaslights Paula to protect Paula and to stall for Brian's return.

* StealthInsult: Elizabeth delivers one to Gregory after she gaslights Paula to allay Gregory's suspicions about Brian. It is almost subverted when Gregory gives her a look of concern, but his attention quickly turns to Paula, and the insult eventually goes over his head.

** Gregory also employs handpicked servants to facilitate his psychological abuse, but the servants in question are {{Unwitting Pawn}}s and unintentionally gaslight Paula because Gregory manipulated them into believing that Paula was insane. For example, Elizabeth only believes that Paula is hearing imaginary sounds because Elizabeth herself can't hear the same noises due to her partial deafness, which was taken into account by Gregory. Ironically, when Elizabeth does intentionally gaslight Paula, she does so to fool Gregory.

** Gregory also employs handpicked servants to facilitate his psychological abuse, but the servants in question are {{Unwitting Pawn}}s and unintentionally gaslight Paula because Gregory manipulated them into believing that Paula was insane. For example, Elizabeth only believes that Paula is hearing imaginary sounds because Elizabeth herself can't hear the same noises due to her partial deafness, which was taken into account by Gregory. Ironically, when Elizabeth does intentionally gaslight Paula, she does so to allay Gregory's suspicions about Brian.

* HeelFaceTurn: Elizabeth is a [[DownplayedTrope downplayed example]] as she was only an unwitting accomplice to Gregory and was never evil. In the final act, she aids the protagonists by lying to Gregory as not to raise Gregory's suspicions and later gets a cop to help Brian capture Gregory.

** Gregory also employs handpicked servants to facilitate his psychological abuse, but the servants in question are {{Unwitting Pawn}}s and unintentionally gaslight Paula because Gregory manipulated them into believing that Paula was insane. For example, Elizabeth only believes that Paula is hearing imaginary sounds because Elizabeth herself can't hear the same noises due to her partial deafness, which was taken into account by Gregory.