WATCH WITH MOTHER Accounts from yogis who have watched films with Shri Mataji GASLIGHT –CHRIS GREAVES In late 1987, before we moved to Italy, Shri Mataji asked Ruth to come up to her house in Rosary Gardens in London to help make some curtains. One day while she was staying there, Shri Mataji, Ruth, and Helen had lunch together. Then Mother began to walk around the room. 'I'm bored,' she said, 'what shall we do?' She switched on the TV. Just at the moment, the titles of a film were coming up. It was Gaslight, not the fine Ingrid Bergman version but the slightly earlier 1940 production, with Anton Walbrook and Diana Wynyard. 'This is good, let's watch it,' said Mother. Helen sat in an armchair, Ruth sat side by side with Mother on the sofa, and they watched the film. The plot of Gaslight revolves around a man's attempt to drive his wife insane in order that he can have her committed to an asylum, at which point he will be able to claim some jewellery that is hers by right. Shri Mataji remarked on the clarity with which the actors and actresses spoke in these old films, and also commented on how sweet the heroine was and how dignified she looked in the clothes of that period, particularly in the sweeping, off-the-shoulder ball gown which she wore in one scene. The husband - 'evil through and through' - almost succeeds in his plan, but at the last moment the young wife is rescued. Then it's her turn to stand up to her husband and tell him what she thinks of him. 'Yes, yes, that's right, go on, tell him!' said Mother. GASLIGHT - Richard – Canada CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. This film probably features Elizabeth Taylor's finest hour. Somebody once asked Shri Mataji if Elizabeth Taylor was a rakshasi. 'No...more like a vampire, I think,' replied Mother, laughing. There is a film called 'Salem's lot' where a village is gradually taken over by vampires. Apparently Shri Mataji said this film showed Sahaja Yogis what would happen to them if they did not meditate! Always - Wolfgang - Austria Mother watched a film called Always with some yogis, it's the story of a coup'le who are very much in love and then the man dies but he cannot let go and remains as a ghost to watch over his widow. Shri mataji remarked that this is what really happens, sometimes We know that Mother watched the classic films ‘Ghost’ and ‘Oh God’ with yogis and would dearly love to hear about her reaction from someone Finally a story from the very early days of Shaja Yoga in the West - Once some Sahaja Yogis asked if Mother would like to watch The Bionic Woman with them...After a few minutes Shri Mataji remarked "Of course you know who the real bionic woman is, don't you!"
There is a movie called Gaslight. Shri Mataji once recommended this film in a recorded talk to Sahaja Yogis. She was saying basically that Hollywood doesn't make good movies the way they used to in the 1930s and 1940s and then mentioned this film as an example of the way they used to do it.
This is very good film, of course, but maybe not what you'd expect Shri Mataji to single out. It has some elements of Somerset Maugham and Agatha Christie. It is a deeply psychological murder mystery and a bit dark at times, but great entertainment.
This story has been filmed several times. the one you want is the 1944 version directed by George Cukor and starring Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman Joseph Cotten, Dame May Whitty and (a very young) Angela Lansbury.