Ingrid Bergman Gaslight – Her Fabulous Victorian Fashion
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This post is all about Ingrid Bergman fashion and Her Fabulous Old Hollywood Victorian outfits in Gaslight.
Gaslight 1944 is a stylish Victorian Thriller set in fog-bound London.
Ingrid Bergman plays the beautiful heroine. She becomes embedded in a complex web of passion, murder and madness!
This film noir highlights the 1940’s perspective of a wealthy Victorian woman’s fashion in 19th-century London. The period was famous for its extravagant display of class and wealth.
Ingrid Bergman’s outfits include stunning dresses with full skirts, bustles, and petticoats with layers of ruffles, trim, and lace. She also has a gorgeous collection of bonnets, gloves, and parasols.
Did you know that Victorian women wore bustles for “back fullness” instead of doing “butt-lifting” or “booty” exercises?!
Is the 1944 Gaslight an Alfred Hitchcock Movie?
No, Gaslight 1944 is not an Alfred Hitchcock movie. However it’s easy to understand why people credit this thriller to Hitchcock. The complex plot twists, the love triangle, the incredible fashion and mysterious aura, definitely makes it feel like a Hitchcock film!
It also embodies the Hitchcock element of keeping the audience guessing until the very end. Plus the play that Gaslight was based on was written by the same British dramatist, Patrick Hamilton, who wrote The Rope, which became a famous Alfred Hitchcock movie.
Why else does Gaslight feel like it belongs to the Alfred Hitchcock collection?
- Ingrid Bergman was one of Hitchcock’s favorite lead actresses. And she starred in three of the best films he produced.
- Hitchcock cast the same two leads, Ingrid Bergman and Joseph Cotten, in his mysterious drama Under Capricorn.
Other posts you might like:
- Ingrid Bergman Hitchcock Movies – 3 Must-See Suspense Classics
- Ingrid Bergman Under Capricorn – 9 Over-The-Top Outfits
- The 4 James Stewart Hitchcock Films You Probably Haven’t Seen
Gaslight 1944 Plot
In this film noir thriller, Ingrid Bergman stars as Paula Alquist Anton, a newlywed bride who is being driven slowly insane by her evil husband Gregory Anton (Charles Boyer).
When Paula returns to London with her new husband years after a tragedy, a smitten detective from Scotland Yard, Brian Cameron (Joseph Cotten) believes Paula is in grave danger.
How old was Ingrid Bergman in Gaslight? Ingrid Bergman was 29 years old when she starred in Gaslight.
Fun Fact!
Ingrid Bergman’s stunning performance in Gaslight earned her first Academy Award for Best Actress… and a Golden Globe! Gaslight also won two Oscars and seven more Oscar nominations.
The two Oscar Nominations of note:
- Best Actor (Charles Boyer)
- Best Supporting Actress (Angela Lansbury as the sassy maid; this was her film debut)
Ingrid Bergman Fashion: Outfit #1 – Black Dress & Veil
In the opening scenes of Gaslight, the townspeople of London are gathered in Thornton Square reading about a murderer at large.
A famous opera singer, Alice Alquist, has been strangled.
The outfit Ingrid Bergman’s character is wearing is a long somber black dress with a black hat and veil.
She is leaving her aunt’s home in mourning.
The solicitor tells her not to look back, but to her future. She is going to Italy to train as a singer.
Ingrid Bergman Style: Outfit #2 – Striped Day Dress
The years pass by….
In Italy, her singing instructor dramatically stops her and says that her mind is not on her lesson. How can she look so much like her famous aunt, but not sing like her?!
Paula admits she is in love.
Her instructor tells her to forget the past tragedy and singing, and pursue happiness.
Paula runs out into the waiting arms of her lover, Gregory Anton (Charles Boyer).
Ingrid Bergman’s character Paula Alquist is wearing a floor length striped dress with lace and ribbon accents, and a belt.
Ingrid Bergman Fashion: Outfit #3 – Travel Dress
Ingrid Bergman’s character Paula travels back to England.
Her chatty travel companion eagerly talks about about her fascination with murder mysteries. She mentions that she lives in Thornton Square in London and that an unsolved murder occurred there years ago.
(Little does she realize that she’s talking to the niece of murdered woman!)
Ingrid Bergman’s character is wearing a fitted button-up shirt and skirt with an elegantly layered traveling coat. She accessories this with a smart hat and veil.
When Paula gets off at her train stop, she is surprised and delighted to see her fiancé.
Ingrid Bergman Style: Outfit #4 – Honeymoon Lounging Outfit
In the next scene, Paula is on her honeymoon with her new husband, Gregory Anton.
He suddenly announces that his dream is to live in one of the homes in the London Square.
Paula grows quiet. Then she says that she owns such a house. It was gifted from her beloved aunt, who took her in when her parents passed.
Paula: “That house comes into my dreams sometimes…that house of horror!”
“It’s strange, but I haven’t dreamed of it since I’ve known you. I haven’t been afraid since I’ve known you! …I’ve found peace in loving you.”
She tells him that she could face the house with him.
Ingrid Bergman’s character is wearing a floor length ruffled nightgown fitted below the bodice.
Ingrid Bergman Fashion: Outfit #5 – Fashionable Day Dress
Paula Alquist and Gregory travel back to London and arrive at Thornton Square #9.
Together they explore the rooms.
Paula shows Gregory a glass cabinet where her aunt kept special treasures. The glass is still shattered from the night of the murder, but nothing was ever missing.
Paula takes out a single glove. It was signed by someone famous. Its matching glove was given to a secret admirer!
Gregory Anton begins playing the piano.
Paula discovers a letter in the music scores that was sent to her aunt two days before she was murdered.
Paula starts reading it aloud. It’s from a man named Sergis Bauer.
Gregory exclaims suddenly in a burst of anger and grabs the letter.
Ingrid Bergman’s character is wearing a floor length dress with a fitted bodice, with a black tie accent, and full skirts. Her fashion accessories include a small hat with a veil and stylish fur muff to keep her hands warm.
Need more Old Hollywood style inspiration?
Here’s Looking At You, Kid! Ingrid Bergman’s Sensational 1940’s Fashion in Casablanca
Ingrid Bergman Fashion: Outfit #6 – White Lace Day Dress
Ingrid Bergman’s character Paula comes downstairs. She is dressed beautifully. She is very excited. This is the first time they are going out of the house in months!
Ingrid Bergman is wearing a white lace dress with a fitted bodice and full skirts, accessorized with a black ribbon down the back. Her fashion accessories include a matching lace hat and bag, and white gloves.
Charles Boyer’s character Gregory surprises her with the gift of a special broach. It has been in his family for generations.
Gregory says that the latch needs to be adjusted, so he’ll put it in her bag for now. He makes a big deal about where he puts the broach. He tells Paula that she forgets things.
Paula enjoys the tour of the London Tower, until she suddenly realizes that the new broach is missing from her bag.
She starts searching frantically, getting more and more agitated.
During their outing, a man spots Paula and stares at her mesmerized. When his companions tell him that he looks as though he’s seen a ghost, he says:
“It’s just that I thought I saw someone I know is dead!”
It is the Scotland Yard Inspector Brian Cameron (Joseph Cotten).
Once home, Gregory asks for the broach so he can get it repaired.
In agitation, Paula turns her bag upside down, and exclaims that she must have taken it out without realizing.
Need more Edwardian / Victorian costume inspo from Old Hollywood?
Audrey Hepburn My Fair Lady Dress – Her 13 Sensational Dresses as she transforms into a Princess
Ingrid Bergman Style: Outfit #7 – Evening Robe
The husband, Charles Boyer’s character, leaves the house in the evening to go compose music.
While Ingrid Bergman’s character, Paula, is getting ready for bed, the gaslight chandelier lights dim.
She asks the almost-deaf cook if someone turned up the gas in another room, to cause this. She replies no.
Paula then hears mysterious footsteps walking above her, but believes the house is deserted. She is frightened.
Ingrid Bergman’s character is wearing a white lace nightgown. She pairs this with a robe with lace accents.
Ingrid Bergman Fashion: Outfit #8 – Day Dress
Joseph Cotten’s character Detective Brian Cameron stands in front of Paula’s house, scoping it out.
A chatty neighbor eagerly fills him in on the murder that occurred years ago and the strange goings-on now.
Paula walks outside, but then promptly returns inside, clearly frightened.
The outfit Ingrid Bergman’s character is wearing is an elegant dress with a fitted bodice and full skirts, with lace accents. Her hat is a fluffy and frilly concoction with a ribbon tie.
Back at the police headquarters, Detective Brian Cameron is questioned. Why is he trying to reopen a ten year old murder case?!
Doesn’t he know that they never found any leads and the missing crown jewels were hushed up?
Back inside, Ingrid Bergman’s character Paula walks restlessly back and forth.
When she is about to add coal to the fire, her husband Gregory Anton commands her to ring the maid. (Angela Lansbury plays the sexy and sassy maid.)
When the maid arrives, he starts flirting with her, commenting on her complexion and asking if she’d share tips with the mistress!
The chatty neighbor rings the doorbell, with Detective Brian Cameron, pretending to be her nephew.
Gregory refuses to allow them in, saying the mistress is not well.
When Paula begs him to allow the neighbor to visit, he has a sudden burst of rage, “I do not want people around this house!”
Paula stares into space… listless and depressed.
A moment later, Gregory announces he is taking her to the theatre, Paula reacts with giddy excitement.
Gregory says, jokingly, “And you thought I was being cruel to you… keeping people away… making you a prisoner!”
Paula replies, “No… you’re the kindest man in the world.” She hugs him and begins dancing gleefully around the room, as he plays a tune on the piano.
Suddenly, Gregory stops playing the piano. He points to an empty space on the wall–a small picture is missing.
Gregory tells her in anger: “Why was it taken down before? Will you please get it from wherever you’ve hidden it and put it back in its place?”
Paula, says in distress, “But I haven’t hidden it, I swear! Why should I…why should I?!”
He then trails her upstairs to hunt for the “missing picture.”
He tells her to go to her room. They are not going to the theatre.
The mind games continue.
Gregory walks out outside into the murky foggy London streets, illuminated by the old fashioned gaslights. He looks around suspiciously and then darts down an alley.
A short time later, Paula hears footsteps above her and the gaslights dim. She stares in horror at the ceiling and starts screaming.
Ingrid Bergman’s character is wearing is a black dress with a fitted bodice and full skirts, with white lace accents.
Ingrid Bergman Fashion: Outfit #10 – White Evening Gown
Ingrid Bergman’s character Paula is invited to a musical reception.
Paula walks into the drawing room dressed to the nines.
She is wearing a stunning white dress with a fitted bodice and full skirts, with white lace and jeweled accents. She also has a matching jeweled hair accessory, parasol and fan.
Gregory asks her why she’s dressed, since he declined the invitation.
Paula says, “I’m quite well enough and I want to go. Lady Delory was very kind to me when I was a small child, and I’m going. …I must get out of this house!”
Gregory and Paula arrive late to the musical performance. The hostess nods at Detective Brian Cameron, who had arranged for the invitation.
Detective Brian Cameron is sitting a few rows back, carefully watching!
Ingrid Bergman’s character Paula is beaming, enjoying the music with delight.
A few minutes later, Gregory Anton taps her and says, “Paula, my watch is gone.”
Paula looks at him in horror. He slowly reaches for her handbag, and dramatically opens it and pulls out his watch.
Paula starts freaking out and crying hysterically, disrupting the musical performance. Gregory escorts her home.
More suspicious than ever, Detective Brian trails them home.
When Gregory leaves the house a short while later, the detective and constable trail him, but Gregory disappears in the fog.
Stumped, they realize he must somehow have reentered the building.
Why leave your house in order to enter it from another building?
Ingrid Bergman Style: Outfit #11 – Lace Petticoat
Alone in her room, Paula hears footsteps above her and sees the gaslight slowly dimming.
She starts screaming hysterically for the deaf cook.
The cook helps her undress and says she cannot hear anything.
She also adds a lacey shawl for fashionable warmth.
Ingrid Bergman’s character is wearing a beautiful petticoat. Her petticoat is gathered at the waist and flares outward at the hem and is ornamented with layers of ruffles and lace.
Meanwhile Detective Brian is sketching out the houses on Thornton square trying to decipher what the husband is up to.
Ingrid Bergman Fashion: Outfit #12 – Ruffled Day Dress
The next evening, Detective Brian hides near the house, waiting for Gregory to leave.
To gain Paula’s trust and entrance to the house, he hands Paula the missing glove.
Paula matches it to the one in the cabinet, and realizes he was the special admirer her aunt had always referenced years ago!
Ingrid Bergman’s character is wearing a lacey blouse and broach, with a matching dark fitted bodice and full skirts dress.
Detective Brian sees the gaslamp dim and hears footsteps above them.
Paula gasps in shock that he can hear the sounds too. She thought it was all in her head! And she had started doubting her own sanity.
Detective Brian Cameron breaks into Gregory’s desk.
Paula spots the mysterious letter from Sergis Bauer she’d found the first day they returned to the house.
Detective Brian matches the handwriting from this letter to Paula’s husband Gregory.
Gregory was a pianist for Paula’s aunt Alice Alquist in Prague.
He is upstairs searching, among the aunt’s things, for the secret crown jewels he’d killed for years ago.
Up in the attic, Gregory finally discovers the jewels sewn into Alice Alquist’s famous stage dress, the one in her painting. The sparkling gems are not costume jewels, but real!!
The police catch Gregory red-handed.
Detective Brian walks Paula onto the deck overlooking the foggy London evening. He tells her lovingly that after a dark night the sun will rise. And he will come back and see her….
This post was all about Ingrid Bergman fashion and her fabulous Old Hollywood Victorian outfits in Gaslight.
What are your thoughts on the Ingrid Bergman fashion in movie Gaslight 1944?
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