Gaslight
Costume
1944 (made)
1944 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Costume worn by Ingrid Bergman in Gaslight, designed by Irene, 1944.
Gaslight was adapted from Patrick Hamilton’s successful stage play. Ingrid Bergman won her first Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as a woman who is being driven slowly insane by her psychotic husband. The costumes were designed by Irene, who was known professionally by her first name. Irene started her career as a couturier in 1927 with her own business in Los Angeles, soon she was designing costumes for films. By the early 1940s, she was Head of the Costume Department at MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) and designed costumes for many of MGM’s most successful and enduring films including Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), The Postman Always Rings Twice (1945) and Fred Astaire and Ginger’s final film together, The Barclays of Broadway (1949).
The British Film Institute (BFI) acquired its costume collection for display at the Museum of the Moving Image, which existed on the South Bank in London between 1988 and 1999. The collection is made up of British, European, American and Japanese films and covers the period from the silent film era to the mid-1990s. It contains a wealth of historic and significant film costumes worn by major performers and designed by some of the 20th century’s most important film costume designers. The collection was transferred to the V&A in 2015.
Gaslight was adapted from Patrick Hamilton’s successful stage play. Ingrid Bergman won her first Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as a woman who is being driven slowly insane by her psychotic husband. The costumes were designed by Irene, who was known professionally by her first name. Irene started her career as a couturier in 1927 with her own business in Los Angeles, soon she was designing costumes for films. By the early 1940s, she was Head of the Costume Department at MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) and designed costumes for many of MGM’s most successful and enduring films including Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), The Postman Always Rings Twice (1945) and Fred Astaire and Ginger’s final film together, The Barclays of Broadway (1949).
The British Film Institute (BFI) acquired its costume collection for display at the Museum of the Moving Image, which existed on the South Bank in London between 1988 and 1999. The collection is made up of British, European, American and Japanese films and covers the period from the silent film era to the mid-1990s. It contains a wealth of historic and significant film costumes worn by major performers and designed by some of the 20th century’s most important film costume designers. The collection was transferred to the V&A in 2015.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
|
| Title | Gaslight (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Wool and cotton |
| Brief description | Costume worn by Ingrid Bergman in Gaslight, designed by Irene, 1944 |
| Physical description | Costume worn by Ingrid Bergman in Gaslight consisting of a jacket and skirt. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | Gallery Rotation, 2022
COSTUME WORN BY INGRID BERGMAN IN GASLIGHT
1944
Ingrid Bergman won both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for her performance in Gaslight playing Paula, a woman convinced by her husband that she is losing her mind. The film was adapted from Patrick Hamilton’s 1938 play, which popularised the term ‘gaslighting’ to describe psychological manipulation. The film’s costume designer, known professionally as Irene, worked on over 35 films including Easter Parade and The Ziegfried Follies.
Designed by Irene
Wool and cotton
Given by the British Film Institute
Museum no. S.1643:1, 2-2015(07/03/2022) |
| Credit line | Given by the British Film Institute |
| Summary | Costume worn by Ingrid Bergman in Gaslight, designed by Irene, 1944. Gaslight was adapted from Patrick Hamilton’s successful stage play. Ingrid Bergman won her first Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as a woman who is being driven slowly insane by her psychotic husband. The costumes were designed by Irene, who was known professionally by her first name. Irene started her career as a couturier in 1927 with her own business in Los Angeles, soon she was designing costumes for films. By the early 1940s, she was Head of the Costume Department at MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) and designed costumes for many of MGM’s most successful and enduring films including Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), The Postman Always Rings Twice (1945) and Fred Astaire and Ginger’s final film together, The Barclays of Broadway (1949). The British Film Institute (BFI) acquired its costume collection for display at the Museum of the Moving Image, which existed on the South Bank in London between 1988 and 1999. The collection is made up of British, European, American and Japanese films and covers the period from the silent film era to the mid-1990s. It contains a wealth of historic and significant film costumes worn by major performers and designed by some of the 20th century’s most important film costume designers. The collection was transferred to the V&A in 2015. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.1643:1, 2-2015 |
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| Record created | May 29, 2015 |
| Record URL |
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