CONNECTION TO PREVIOUS ENTRY: Steven Geray
SOURCE: Personal Collection, Criterion Collection Blu Ray
STARRING: Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford, George Macready
CO-STARS: Steven Geray, Joseph Calleia
DIRECTOR: Charles Vidor
COMPOSER: M.W. Stoloff & Martin Skiles
STUDIO: Columbia
SUMMARY: Johnny Farrell (Ford) is seen at the beginning of the film playing craps with loaded dice in an alley in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His opponents don’t take being cheated nicely. However, their robbery attempt is thwarted when the wealthy Ballin Mundsen (Macready) intervenes. Ballin tells Johnny about a nearby fancy casino where he can try his luck, but warns him not to cheat. Johnny goes to the casino and plays Blackjack and seems to have an unusual amount of luck. It is determined that he was cheating and he’s brought to face the casino’s owner, who turns out to be Ballin. Johnny convinces Ballin to give him a job at the casino. Ballin agrees and makes Johnny his manager. A little while later, Ballin leaves for a trip. When he returns, he announces that he’s married a woman named Gilda (Hayworth). When Gilda and Johnny meet, it is obvious that these two are already acquainted and there is a nasty history between the two. Ballin instructs Johnny to keep an eye on Gilda, an order that she rightfully resents. Throughout the remainder of the film, Gilda and Johnny maintain an intense love-hate relationship where the two engage in behavior to annoy the other, while also maintaining a red-hot passion for each other, while also loathing each other.
FAVORITE PART(S):
1) Gilda’s one-glove striptease, wearing the iconic black strapless gown, while she sings “Put the Blame on Mame” is a classic for a reason. This is the highlight of the film and the climax of the main plot of Johnny and Gilda’s love-hate relationship.
2) Gilda’s performance of “Amado Mio.” I love her dress and Rita’s dancing is a lot of fun.
3) Gilda’s amazing floor length sequin coat. I want it, though I have nowhere to wear it.
4) Gilda’s spectacular entrance into the film. Her hair flip into the frame is iconic for a reason.
5) Johnny and Gilda’s love-hate relationship is so intense. I love that there isn’t really any background as to what happened before Buenos Aires. I get the sense that Johnny blindsided Gilda with the break-up of the relationship for reasons only known to him.
6) The entire Carnival scene. I loved Gilda’s costume.
LOW POINT OF THE FILM:
Ballin’s staged suicide. While I like the idea of Ballin faking his own death, I hate that the film showed us that he faked his death. I would have much rather been left in the dark, only to have him re-emerge at the end like he does. I guess the audience waits in anticipation for Ballin’s return, but I think being surprised by it would have been more interesting.
BEST QUOTE(S):
GILDA: You do hate me, don’t you, Johnny?
JOHNNY: I don’t think you have any idea of how much.
GILDA: Hate is a very exciting emotion. Haven’t you noticed? Very exciting. I hate you too, Johnny. I hate you so much I think I’m going to die from it. Darling…
[GILDA and JOHNNY kiss passionately]
GILDA: I think I’m going to die from it.
JOHNNY: Pardon me, your husband is showing.
JOHNNY: I hated her so I couldn’t get her out of my mind for a minute. She was in the air I breathed–and the food I ate.
JOHNNY: I thought we agreed that women and gambling didn’t mix.
BALLIN: My wife does not come under the category of women, Johnny.
GILDA: Would it interest you to know how much I hate you, Johnny?
JOHNNY: Very much.
GILDA: I hate you so much that I would destroy myself to take you down with me.