Gilda (1946) Queer Film A-

Gilda
DIRECTOR: Charles Vidor
Feast your eyes on Charles Vidor’s stylish direction, Rudolph Maté’s lush black‑and‑white cinematography (unusual for a noir, and all the more intoxicating for it), the slinky Jean Louis gowns, and—above all—Rita Hayworth as Gilda, one of Hollywood’s most iconic creations.
Although Glenn Ford and George Macready always insisted that they believed their characters were gay, Vidor disagreed. The plot and motivations are so convoluted that Gilda becomes difficult to place neatly on the queer spectrum. But it’s queer enough—emotionally, aesthetically, atmospherically—to contain two of the most significant musical numbers in cinema history: “Put the Blame on Mame” and “Amado Mio.” Hayworth performs both in grand, smoldering style (dubbed by Anita Ellis), with choreography by Jack Cole, the father of theatrical jazz dance. The songs, written by Doris Fisher and Allan Roberts, are pure Hollywood alchemy.
The result is a film that may defy tidy interpretation, but it never fails to seduce. Gilda is noir as fever dream—glamorous, unstable, erotically charged, and impossible to forget.
The original screenplay, written by Jo EisingerMarion Parsonnet, and Ben Hecht (uncredited), is based on a story by E.A. Ellington.
COLUMBIA PICTURES

STREAMING: Amazon Prime, YouTube and Apple TV+

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