The Founder

I had seen a few movie clips from this film on YouTube. Having worked at a McDonald's from 1982?-1985? I was familiar with Ray Kroc's name and story. I gleaned that he had made a fortune off the McDonald brothers, but didn't know to what extent.

 

Louie and I both found this movie to be really sad. Kroc seems to have been a selfish jerk. He pretty much stole their concept, ditched his wife of 27 years, and made it big. He died in 1984 and at least his wife Joan donated much of their wealth. (Though it seems as though she and Kroc got together despite being previously married to other people. They each left their spouse to get together with one another. Sounds like they were made for one another.)

 

I thought the movie was well-cast and well-acted. I loved the 1950s cars and clothing. I was heart broken for Dick and Mac McDonald, who seemed to be decent human beings. The nail in the coffin for me was when Kroc opened a McDonald's right across the street from their original store (which they could no longer call McDonald's because of Kroc . . . ). What an awful person he was! Selfish and vindictive.

Gaslight

I was watching Jeopardy! with friends back in November and one of the clues was about an old movie. Gaslight was the correct answer.

I was flabbergasted. Not only had I never heard of this movie, I thought "gaslight" was a new term, like Karen, Boomer, rizz, etc.

Being the curious sort that I am, I looked it up online. This "thriller / mystery" was made in 1944. It stars Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer, and Joseph Cotten. I love that 18 year old Angela Lansbury has a role as a saucy maid!

 

I had to get it from the library to watch it for myself! Adapted from a 1938 play written by Patrick Hamilton, the movie basically "follows a young woman whose husband slowly manipulates her into believing that she is descending into insanity." (Wikipedia)

Watching it was so frustrating! Bergman slowly transforms from a talented, spirited young woman in love into a timid, terrified shell of a person afraid of her home and afraid of leaving it. This was a movie where I yelled at the screen. "Don't listen to him! Run! Kill him!" (Yes, I got a bit bloodthirsty after seeing this man destroy her with deceitful words.)

I'm glad I watched it because it gives so much more depth to the word "gaslighting" than I had previously understood. It made me curious to watch more Ingrid Bergman movies. (Joseph Cotten plays the good guy who helps uncover the crimes. I cheered him on.)