Ford goes to work for the owner of an illegal South American gambling casino. When the owner returns with his new wife, Ford is given the assignment of keeping her faithful, only to be troubled by the fact that he and the ... more »wife had been lovers in the past.
A black and white classic that some will love and others will find boring!
Amity B. (mollyblack) from OAKLAND, CA Reviewed on 6/9/2010...
This is a wonderful movie with a fairly perverse storyline for the times. Rita Hayworth comes forth as a shining full-blooded star in this movie about twisted affections, affectations, and what people will do to hurt the ones they love.
1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Anne K. Reviewed on 12/26/2008...
I watched this for the first time yesterday. WOW.. Rita Hayworth was quite a knockout and a sexy siren to-boot. I think she's much sexier then Marilyn Monroe. The movie was pretty good for the time, not a whole lot of story or drama. It could've been more dramatic. I noticed some sexual implications in the dialog, a bit racy for back then. But I really enjoyed it. I recommend it to those who love classics and lovelorn tales. Hayworth has a great singing voice and her sultry curves is enough to make a man weak at the knees and girls like me jealous!
2 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.
Movie Reviews
"Hate is a very exciting emotion!"
Snowbrocade | Santa Barbara, CA | 10/11/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford star in Gilda, a noir thriller set in Buenos Aires. Ford plays Johnny, a down on his luck gambler who is picked up by a casino owner. Johnny quickly becomes the casino owner's right-hand man--with a pact that women and gambling don't mix. Then Johnny's boss comes back from a trip with a new wife, Gilda,played incandescently by Rita Hayworth. Gilda is a typical noir femme fatale. She acts fast and loose but is actually just trying to get her guy jealous. Of course, her guy isn't her husband--its Johnny.
This odd little story is highly likeable for about three quarters of the film, when it makes a strange detour. Fortunately for us, the story gets right back on track at the end.
Ford does a good job as the loyal and jealous Johnny. He is vibrant, athletic and serious. Hayworth's beauty glows and gleams. She is given quite a few song and dance numbers. Her dancing is talented but strangely loose limbed. The movie steams with chemistry between Ford and Hayworth which is fortunate because the plot is more than a little cockeyed. The filming is gorgeously contrasted black and white with the requisite shadowy interiors."
Lots of Style and Charisma. Laughably Nonsensical Story.
mirasreviews | McLean, VA USA | 07/29/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"As World War II ends, a young hustler in Buenos Aires, Argentina, meets a wealthy casino owner with whom he has a lot in common. The hustler, Johnny Farrell (Glenn Ford), becomes the casino's manager and right-hand man to aristocratic Ballin Mundson's (George Macready). The two men become perfect partners in business and close friends. One day, Mundson returns from vacation with a new wife, Gilda (Rita Hayworth), an attractive, headstrong young woman whom Johnny has met before. Gilda's presence threatens the men's relationship and their equilibrium.
Thanks to her smashing rendition of "Put the Blame on Mame", "Gilda" is Rita Hayworth's best-remembered role. Many have called it a "clothed strip tease". It's certainly a sexy, energetic, eye-catching performance. Rita Hayworth never sang in movies, though. Anita Ellis provided the voice for "Put the Blame on Mame".
"Gilda" owes most of its success to Rita Hayworth's charisma. Love triangles are always popular fodder, but this one doesn't make a bit of sense. The story is incomprehensible. The tension that exists between Gilda and Johnny is constantly alluded to, but never explained. The film features the most hateful romance I've ever seen. "Gilda" might be about people imprisoned by their own desires, but to say it is about anything would be presumptuous. "Gilda" has great style, though, and seductive noir-ish characters. So it's entertaining, even if the story is off the wall.
The DVD: Bonus features include one featurette and some odds and ends. "Rita Hayworth: The Columbia Lady" is a 9-minute documentary that follows Hayworth's career at Columbia Studios, where she made 32 films between 1936 and 1953. It doesn't say much, but there are nice film clips. "Vintage Advertising" displays 8 old movie posters for "Gilda". "Talent File" provides written bios and abridged filmographies for director Charles Vidor and the film's three stars. "Theatrical Trailers" includes 4 old trailers for: "Gilda", "The Loves of Carmen" (which also starred Hayworth and Glenn Ford), "A Man for All Seasons", and "The Last Hurrah". Subtitles are available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai. Dubbing is available in French, Spanish, and Portuguese."
Noir Classic!
claremonde99 | 08/03/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Rita Hayworth's immortal film that haunted her throughout life and career, once quoted about the men in her life as, "They went to bed with Gilda, and woke up with me...". Infamous and seductive in its most popular days, Gilda is a film that represents some of the best and memorable scenes from the film noir genre. The beauty of this film is in the silent moments. It is in the contrast of the shadows and light in every scene from the moment when Glen Ford enters the film from a darken alley to Rita Hayworth tossing her hair over her shoulder. What is impeccable about the film is the chemistry of the cast, and style of the film itself. Several particular scenes that stand out:---Gilda's sultry performance of "Put the Blame on Mame".---Gilda and Johnny dancing for the first time at the club.---Gilda's curse of damning the woman who wronged Johnny.---Gilda's declaration of hate for Johnny, " I hate you so much, I'd destroy myself just to take you down with me...""
Wow
Roddy | CA | 03/29/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I'm 37 years old and far from an old time movie buff. I like noir movies though and have started collecting them for a while now. I also managed to get this movie for $9.99 at Tower Records because somebody goofed and put the wrong price on it, it was supposed to be $19.99. BONUS!!!
I've seen some sexy performances in my day from older actresses (Liz Taylor in 'Cat on a hot tin roof', Grace Kelly in 'Rear Window' to name a couple). But MAN 'O MAN was Rita Hayworth gorgeous in this movie. It is impossible to take your eyes off her. She showed a lot of emotions and range in her role, and throughout the movie I kept thinking to myself "I don't know what she did to tick-off Glenn Ford, but it must've been really, REALLY bad" because his character showed great restraint to her tempting ways (which are rampant throughout the whole movie). Easily THEE sexiest role I have ever seen, regardless of day and age. The story is a little hard to follow (which is why I didn't give it 5 stars), but it doesn't really matter because even if you could follow it, you'd be too distracted by Hayworth's performance and beauty anyway.
Highly recommended."
"Johnny. I hate you so much I think I'm going to die from it
Ghenghis | Monvolia | 03/09/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Indeed. I've hated women like that too, it usually translated into some of the most passionate sex and most ardent damage to my home, cars, golf clubs, shoes, life, etc. haw haw
The best of the "Holy Cripes, look who's working for my new husband in an Argentine Casino" Noir-nivals. Rita Hayworth is absolutely stunning in the role as Gilda, and the chemistry and tension between her and Johnny Farrell (Ford) is incredible. You know instantaneously when they are reunited that somebody got hosed pretty badly, and the hosing aint over cause thats just what follows these two.
A 5 star flick except for the last 20-30 minutes which lapses into total predictability, and the underlying attraction between Hayworth's husband (Ballin) and Johnny Farrell. Fantastic black and white clean transfer, and a ten minute featurette on Hayworth's career. A devoted heterosexual declares this film 4 Keys."