Ever Wonder Where “Gaslighting” Comes From? This Oscar-Winning Film

80 years prior to Isabella Rossellini receiving her initial Academy Award nomination, Ingrid Bergman, her mother, received her first Oscar. This recognition came in 1945 for her role in the movie “Gaslight,” directed by George Cukor. The film focuses on a woman who starts to doubt her own sanity after she and her husband move into a London home where her aunt was murdered ten years earlier. Angela Lansbury also made her Oscar-nominated feature debut in this film.

In June 1943, THR pointed out that Bergman, who had starred in Casablanca the previous year, was set to appear in Cukor’s first film since his military service during World War II (previously, he had directed films such as The Philadelphia Story in 1940). MGM released Gaslight in May 1944, where it enjoyed both commercial and critical success. It grossed $4.6 million ($83 million in today’s value), and THR’s review lauded the “extraordinary” film as “the long-awaited masterpiece for which Cukor fans have been eager.” It received seven Oscar nominations and won two. The 1945 Oscars, held during the somber aftermath of war, were the first to be broadcast nationally on radio. This year’s Oscars, happening in the wake of the L.A. wildfires, will mark the first time they are streamed live.

The movie “Gaslight,” named by AFI in 2001 as one of the 100 most gripping films, remains influential. The term “gaslighting” is now commonly used to describe manipulation aimed at making someone doubt their perception of reality. In 2021, Rossellini, nominated for best supporting actress in “Conclave,” commented on “Gaslight”: “The film tackles a topic that remains relevant in today’s social discourse: the abuse of women, particularly psychological abuse.”

“The film deals with a subject that is still relevant today – abuse of women, particularly psychological abuse.

You can find this intriguing tale in the February 26th edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To stay updated with such captivating stories, consider subscribing here!

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2025-03-01 22:54