Gaslight series

(On Cable TV, June 2022) The best-case scenario for remakes is that they improve on the original in every way, making it look like a prototype for later, superior work. The worst case is that the remake is terrible and is quickly forgotten. 1940’s British Gaslight, on the other hand, is not that far away from the better-known American 1944 Gaslight. Oh, the American one is superior – better actors, better directing, substantially better production values. But the earlier film is no slouch: still faithful to the original novel, but perhaps less histrionic and more subtle. What’s perhaps more interesting is that, despite the very short duration separating both films, both –being from different sides of the Atlantic—do have their own specific flavour that makes even a double-bill viewing interesting on its own.