Gilda (1946)

Gilda (1946)

A noir film selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars

Plot: American Johnny Farrell ends up employed in Argentina by the distinguished Ballin Mundson, who runs an illegal high-end casino. After professing his loyalty to Mundson, Johnny discovers that his boss’s new wife is his former lover.

Analysis: The movie had some similarities to Casablanca, including glamorous gathering spots for ex-pats and the war and tensions with Germany as a powerful background. The romance plot is a bit heavier in this film, to its detriment in my opinion.

Rita Hayworth as Gilda is incredibly seductive and her confidence is impressive. I really enjoyed the other casting as well; Glenn Ford and George Macready fit quite well in their respective roles. Ford as Johnny is a flawed but likable guy and is really the main character, despite Gilda’s status at the titular one.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the Carnival celebration looks absolutely divine and I’d love to be at a party like that. Well most of the party… The set design in general is well done and helps set the glamorous tone for the movie. Gilda is a stylish and well done noir film that I’d recommend to fans of the genre.