Gilda

 

 

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Much has been made of the obvious pleasures in "Gilda" -- the stunning, idol-making performance of Rita Hayworth; the famous striptease-that-really-is-a-tease; the overripe dialogue (somebody could make a good drinking game based on how many times somebody says "Johnny" to Glenn Ford); the perversely sexual subtexts involving Gilda and Johnny, Gilda and Ballin, and certainly, Ballin and Johnny (!) But the other pleasures of this movie shouldn't be overlooked. For one thing, it's one of the best LOOKING movies ever to come out of the 1940's: stunning sets, gorgeous costumes, and most of all, eye-popping black-and-white photography, making effective use of noir conventions (everyone is forever stepping into or out of shadows) and creating Glenn Ford and Rita Hayworth as pinnacles of physical beauty; neither one ever looked this good again, although Rita came close in "You Were Never Lovelier".
Maybe my favorite overlooked treat in "Gilda" is the enigmatic character of Uncle Pio, who has some of the best lines in the movie as he wittily comments on the foibles of the characters,
acting as a sort of Shakespearean Fool. Screenwriting this good is certainly part of what makes "Gilda" so special and brings its fans back to watch again and again.

One final comment: if Rita Hayworth really does her own singing during the quiet version of "Mame" in the nightclub at 5 a.m., as I've read and heard, the lady was not only gorgeous and a terrific dancer, she had quite a voice, too!

Columbia Pictures presents "GILDA" (1945) ~ (110 min/B&W) ~ Starring: Rota Hayworth, Glenn Ford, George Macready, Joseph Calleia & Steven Geray

Directed by Charles Vidor

When wealthy Ballin Mundson (George Macready) rescues down at his heels gambler Johnny Farrell (Glenn Ford) and invites him to the Buenos Aires casino he owns, both men get more than they wagered on. Farrell convinces Mundson to hire him as casino manager, but is shocked when Mundson introduces his new bride, and Farrell's old flame, Gilda (Rita Hayworth).Though Farrell is unwavering in his loyalty to his employer, and he and Gilda treat each other with contempt, Mundson realizes that the torch never died for either of the former lovers. Ordered to guard Gilda, Farrell tries to convince himself that he's protecting Mundson's interests, but Gilda sees through his self-deception. Meanwhile, Mundson reveals to Farrell that his primary business is control of an international tungsten cartel that he plans to use to further his fascist ends.

Great tight tense script, direction and cast makes an all-time classic noir, but it's George Macready who gives such an icy cold character performance, that when he's on the screen nobody else seems to be there, even though Hayworth and Ford are steaming up the cameras with their hot steaming scenes.

* Special footnote: ~ Rita Hayworth had to wear a corset while shooting "Put the Blame on Mame," as she gave birth to her first daughter, Rebecca, months before filming ~ In the scene where Gilda is brought back to Argentina by Tom, she slaps Johnny hard across both sides of his face. In reality, Rita Hayworth's smacks broke two of 'Glenn Ford''s teeth. He held his place until the take was finished ~ The photo of Johnny Farrell as a baby is a picture of 'Glenn Ford''s real-life son, Peter Ford.

BIOS:
1. Charles Vidor [Director]
Date of Birth: 27 July 1900, Budapest, Austria-Hungary (now Hungary)
Date of Death: 4 June 1959, Vienna, Austria

2. Rita Hayworth [aka: Margarita Carmen Cansino]
Date of Birth: 17 October 1918 - Brooklyn, New York
Date of Death: 14 May 1987 - New York City, New York

3. Glenn Ford (aka: Gwyllyn Samuel Newton Ford)
Date of Birth: 1 May 1916 - Sainte-Christine, Quebec, Canada
Date of Death: 30 August 2006 - Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, California

4. George Macready
Date of Birth: 29 August 1899 - Providence, Rhode Island
Date of Death: 2 July 1973 - Los Angeles, California

5. Joseph Calleia
Date of Birth: 4 August 1897 - St. Julians, Malta
Date of Death: 31 October 1975 - Valletta, Malta

6. Steven Geray
Date of Birth: 10 November 1904 - Ungvár, Austria-Hungary. [now Uzhgorod, Ukraine]
Date of Death: 26 December 1973 - Los Angeles, California

7. Joe Sawyer [aka: Joseph Sauers]
Date of Birth: 29 August 1906 - Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Date of Death: 21 April 1982 - Ashland, Oregon

8. Gerald Mohr
Date of Birth: 11 June 1914 - New York City, New York, USA
Date of Death: 9 November 1968 - Södermalm, Stockholm, Stockholms Län, Sweden

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 110 min on DVD ~ Columbia Pictures ~ (November 7, 2000)

Columbia Pictures made 32 movies with Rita Hayworth thus she became known as the "The Columbia Lady". But after making a series of steamy romance films including "GILDA", she became known as "The Love Goddess".

Gilda was such an important Hollywood film that the UCLA Film and Television Archives with Sony Pictures digitally restored & remastered both picture & sound flawlessly. Gilda also is Archived in The Library of Congress.

This Standard (4:3 tv) Black/White film is perfectly presented in this collectable DVD. Hayworth is at her best and absolutely beautiful.

Summary; A steamy romance between Bosses wife ( Rita Hayworth) and South American casino manager (Glenn Ford). A love hate romantic triangle forms along with black mail, bribery, corruption, double crossing & murder. This fast pace romantic drama keeps us guessing and the surprise ending is a 1940's Hollywood gem.

Extra Features: featurette, Rita Hayworth - The Columbia Lady (some very enjoyable dance sequences with Fred Astaire), Vintage Advertising, Talent Files & Trailers.

Hayworth is "GILDA". This is a great movie to enjoy over & over. Get the popcorn ready and sit back and watch the "Love Goddess" at her steamy best. Enjoy.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Rita Hayworth stars as GILDA, with her 2 GAY boyfriends!
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I remember the first time I saw this noir classic as a teenager and thinking how wonderful it was that a film had been made in the mid-1940's that actually featured a plot... Read more

Published on Feb 26 2004 by HAPPY BUYER

5.0 out of 5 stars "Maybe That Stands for Something"
Rita Hayworth went down in Hollywood history as the Love Goddess. Her title role in *Gilda* (Columbia Pictures, 1946) leaves no doubt why. Read more

Published on Oct 9 2003 by Coram

5.0 out of 5 stars "Maybe That Stands for Something"
Rita Hayworth went down in Hollywood history as the Love Goddess. Her title role in *Gilda* (Columbia Pictures, 1946) leaves no doubt why. Read more

Published on Oct 9 2003 by Coram

4.0 out of 5 stars PUT THE BLAME ON RITA!
Like so many other film noir classics of the golden age, the plot of "Gilda" really makes no sense. She's in love with a penniless bum, Johnny (Glen Ford)who just happens to fall... Read more

Published on Mar 10 2003 by Nix Pix

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous Rita Sizzles....
The hottest film noir from the 40's,"Gilda" is what Rita Hayworth was all about---sex, glamour and vulnerability. Read more

Published on Oct 12 2002 by Mark Norvell

5.0 out of 5 stars "Gilda are you Decent?" ...."who me?"
Gilda is a timless classic aboutlove, betrayl, murder. Rita hayworth plays the title role Gilda a smart and sexy and devilsh femme fatal. Read more

Published on Jun 20 2002 by mypetconcubine

5.0 out of 5 stars "Gilda, are you decent?"
The always stunning Rita Hayworth stars as Gilda, the ultimate femme fatale in this film noir classic. Read more

Published on April 21 2002 by Shadow Woman

5.0 out of 5 stars The most magnificently vicious love triangle in film history
This film is rightly celebrated as Rita Hayworth's greatest film. Certainly, it contains her most famous visual moment, and what is probably one of the most famous images in the... Read more

Published on Mar 15 2002 by Robert Moore

4.0 out of 5 stars A Misogynist's Fantasy
"Gilda" is the most misogynistic Hollywood film you'll ever see. It portrays social and business relationships among men as honorable and equitable -- regardless of which side of... Read more

Published on Feb 26 2002 by William Sommerwerck

5.0 out of 5 stars The Goddess of Glamor
This is one of the best films in Rita Hayworth's career and one of the most glamorous movies of old Hollywood. Read more

Published on Feb 3 2002 by Daryl B

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