Wednesday 31 May 2017

Gilda

Year of Release:  1946
Director:  Charles Vidor
Screenplay:  Jo Eisinger, Marion Parsonnet and Ben Hecht
Starring:  Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford, George Macready, Joseph Calleia
Running Time:  110 minutes
Genre:  film noir, crime, drama, romance,

In Buenos Aires, small time American gambler Johnny Farrell (Ford) manages to get a job with sinister casino owner Ballin Mundson (Macready).  As time passes, Farrell and Mundson form a friendship, however when Mundson introduces Farrell to his glamorous new wife Gilda (Hayworth), it soon becomes apparent that Farrell and Gilda have a past.

This has become one of the classic Hollywood films, with Rita Hayworth being the quintessential femme fatale.  Photographed in glittering silver, her introduction has become iconic, as is her striptease (at least, she takes off her gloves) to the song "Put the Blame on Mame".  However, Hayworth gives Gilda a vulnerability as well as sex appeal.  Glenn Ford is also striking as the thuggish Farrell.  The crime story at the center of the film is always second place to the love triangle, although seen through today's eyes, it's strongly hinted that the love triangle isn't quite what it appears.    

Rita Hayworth in Gilda

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