Just in case you get in a black and white classic film mood, a few recommendations that seem to fit our times.
Gaslight - 1940 British film or the 1944 American remake. Story deals with a man driving his wife insane with gaslighting. The title of this film, is the source of the term “gaslighting” in popular use today.
The Bad Seed – 1959. Story deals with a mother who realizes her little girl is a psychopath.
Imitation of Life – I prefer the original black and white 1934 version, but the 1959 remake is good too (and in color). Story deals with race, class and gender.
The Snake Pit – 1948. The story deals with a woman who wakes up in an insane asylum. A good portrayal of mental institutions back then (terrifying).
Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? – 1962, psychological thriller. Terrible me and my warped brain, I added this film because I can’t see a Kardashian without thinking of it.
In the late 60s and early 70s, I haunted a theatre in Santa Monica that specialized in showing old black and white films, including a handful of “race films” (1915 thru mid-1950s) which are very hard to find today. Atlanta is a big city and might have a theatre showing these films. If so, they are really worth watching. This NPR article offers a good introduction to these films and a possible source for finding them…
