Gaslight

Gaslight
Release Date: May 11, 1944
Director: George Cukor
Actors: Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten, Dame May Whitty, Angela Lansbury, Barbara Everest, Emil Rameau, Edmund Breon, Halliwell Hobbes, Tom Stevenson, Heather Thatcher, Lawrence Grossmith, and Jakob Gimpel

     Angela Lansbury's birthday was not too long ago, so I thought I would write about her first movie, and one of my favorites! She was only 17, and today, at 88, she is still going strong. Ingrid Bergman is amazing in this as well, and even went to a mental institution for inspiration, pretty neat huh? Ingrid Bergman won Best Actress in a Leading role at the Oscars the following year, in 1945, this movie also won the Oscar the same year for Best Art Direction (Interior Decoration, Black and White). Nominated was Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Angela Lansbury), Best Writing (Screenplay), and Best Cinematography too. They sure did make a great movie!!

     Paula Alquist's (Ingrid Bergman) aunt was murdered in the house she grew up in. Paula never wanted to go back to that house, the memories, she was afraid, would forever haunt her. But when her new husband, Gregory Anton (Charles Boyer) wants to move into the house, Paula caves, and decides to go ahead and move back. Paula's fears proved correct, memories were all around, she was afraid. And to make matters worse, she starts losing her mind!!! Her husband is worried that she is ending up like her mother, who was hospitalized for mental issues many years before. But someone is watching over Paula, and it is not her loved ones that have passed. It is Brian Cameron (Joseph Cotten), who believes that it is not Paula that is mad, but her husband Gregory, that is up to no good. Is Brian correct? Their house maid, Nancy (Angela Lansbury) believes she is nuts as well. It is hard to go on with the story without giving away the ending. But I would highly recommend this classic treasure. :) enjoy!!!

The Lady Vanishes

The Lady Vanishes
Released Date: November 1, 1938
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Actors: Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave, Paul Lukas, Dame May Whitty, Cecil Parker, Linden Travers, Naunton Wayne, and Basil Radford

     When watching this movie, keep an eye out for the director. Hitchcock can be seen near the end, at Victoria Station, wearing a black coat and he will be smoking a cigarette (not his normal cigar). Also notice that the movie is suppose to be set far and wide, but the actual set was only ninety feet long, crazy huh? Once again proving Hitchcock a great director. This movie was so popular that the famous Orson Welles watched this movie eleven times! And also Francois Truffaut said that this was Hitchcock's best picture and is Hitch at his best. Another neat piece of trivia, Vivien Leigh tested for the role that Margaret Lockwood won.

     When a avalanche traps a group of train travelers in the mountains, luckily a small village next to the tracks which also holds a hotel for the passengers. You will notice the guests are two British men, Caldicott (Naunton Wayne) and Charters (Basil Radford), the two happen to be more upset over a cricket match. And then also a group of young woman, three ladies, one of which is Iris Henderson (Margaret Lockwood), she happened to take a "holiday" with the other two ladies and now is going home to get married. You will also see Miss Froy (May Whitty) who is an elderly woman that worked abroad as a music teacher and also a governess. And also a few others as well. They all spend the night at the hotel, and in the morning it is time to board the train and head home. Miss Froy asks Iris for help in finding her suitcases. They end up talking more, they also end up eating lunch together. Miss Froy, during the lunch annoys the two English men. After the meal, Iris goes for a nap, when she awakens, Miss Froy is no longer around. She vanished. Into thin air? She can't be a ghost, can she? Or did Caldicott and Charters have anything to do with the woman's disappearance? Or how about the other people that stayed at the hotel that night? This movie is really good, and is a great Hitchcock movie. The best? That for you to decide. However, anything Hitch touched turns into gold.

Mrs. Miniver

Mrs. Miniver
Release Date: December 1, 1942
Director: William Wyler
Actors: Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Teresa Wright, Dame May Whitty, Reginald Owen, Henry Travers, Henry Wilcoxon, and Richard Ney

     Greer Garson, and her costar who played her son, Richard Ney, ended up getting married after the movie was made. They did not marry for long, but they fell in love while making this, even though Greer Garson was old enough to drink (even now) when he was born.

     This movie follows the Miniver family. They live in England during WWII. They go to church every sunday, try their best to survive against bombs and being caught under the light of search officers in the air. The eldest son of the family joins the Air Force, and also falls in love with a very rich woman's granddaughter. The rich woman is the winner every year for a rose competition. Mrs. Miniver has a rose that is named after her from a man that works at the train station. This movie is well loved by many and also had five huge nominations.