"Gilda" (1946)

 

I know, it’s probably some cosmetic algorithm that figures out the why of Rita Hayworth and how much she just gives you a boner just by her looks. She doesn’t even need to be nekkid. Something about her proportions and symmetry that says “SEX!!!” The same could be said with Ann-Margret. Seems wounded/innocent and mean as a snake at the same time. Is it within them? Most likely. According to Rita’s former husband, she was…prickly.

Anyway, “Gilda” uses the best of these attributes. When we first meet Glenn Ford, he’s grifting on the streets with loaded dice. This catches the attention of a casino owner, played by George Macready. Why am I not using their character names? Who gives a fuck…the real attraction is Gilda. And by her introductory hair flip and the first glib response to “Gilda, are you decent?”

“Me?” even watching this alone, I heard an inner cheer. She is a BOMBSHELL, folks. And we learn later, this coy effect is also used to perfection. Only to realize how she got these skills.

I won’t give too much away for you, since there are great spins to the story. Only that the main story is Ford trying to move up in the criminal world while keeping a sexpot at bay who happens to be married to a cartel boss whose friends are pretty evil.

Watch this movie for Rita Hayworth. She sizzles in the final number where she lays herself out bare for the casino/club. Her drunken rendition of “Blame It On Mame” is a nut buster. Since you’ll bust a nut for her coconuts.

Though described as a film noir…it’s weird that it isn’t as dark as say…a Billy Wilder picture. It has romance in it, similar to “Casablanca.” I found it to be more optimistic than most noir films, and the one-liners (with the exception of digging real deep into the core of hurtful comments) to be playful.

Fun stuff people. Seek this movie out if you haven’t already.