(1946, b/w) Down but not out of luck, shooting craps (using his own dice) with sailors in an alley in Buenos Aires at the close of the Second World War, Johnny Farrell (Glenn Ford) is rescued by an elegant gent, Ballin Mundson (George Macready) with his weaponized cane. Invited to a high-class casino ("Don't bring your own dice" but wear a tie), Johnny (also providing narration, though why he wasn't in military service isn't explained) soon discovers that Mundson owns the casino.

Resisting being thrown out ("With your money I wouldn't have to cheat"), the sharpie, claiming to have "no past and all future," makes a strong case for himself: "You've no idea how faithful and obedient I can be." Leaving Johnny in charge, Mundson goes off, returning with a bride (his canary), the young and beautiful Gilda (Rita Hayworth).

Director Charles Vidor's suspenseful film noir (story by E.A. Ellington with screenplay by Marion Parsonnet from Jo Eisinger's adaptation with uncredited assistance from Ben Hecht), in which a woman who appears to be one thing becomes another, includes Hayworth's singing "Put the Blame on Mame."

Reminded of a previous understanding that gambling and women don't mix, Mundson replies: "My wife does not come under the category of women, Johnny." With her long hair and legs and a few other fascinating features, beginning with her face, Gilda is a package of pulchritude, who drinks to her own downfall ("disaster to the wench") and flitters with other men, saying: "If I'd been a ranch, they'd have named me the Bar Nothing."

Protective of his boss's possessions ("Doesn't it bother you at all that you're married?"), when Johnny accuses gorgeous Gilda of being greedy, she answers: "What I want to know is does it bother you?" Back in New York they were a pair, but in Argentina they are antagonists: "Hate is a very exciting emotion."

The washroom attendant Uncle Tio (Steven Geray), privileged with gossip (recognizes Johnny for what he is), quips aphorisms like a philosopher, telling Gilda: "You smoke too much. I noticed only frustrated people smoke too much and only the lonely people are frustrated."

Mundson lets Johnny in on his other dealings as the head of an international cartel attempting to corner the world market on tungsten, providing his partner with access to his safe with its documents. When Ballin murders one of a couple of Germans come to demand fulfillment of an earlier oral agreement, he flees from Detective Maurice Obregon (Joseph Calleia) in his private airplane, crashing into the sea.

As executor of the will, Johnny marries Gilda to secure Mundson's holdings, abandons her after the ceremony, but makes sure she can't escape the cage in which he's caught her. The conclusion, unfortunately, cops a plea Hollywood style.

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Copyright © 2009 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
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