Is Gilda a Noir film? I'm not sure but I like it. A lot of mystery/ drama/ suspense and adventure movies from the 1940's get tarred as Noir. To me, Gilda falls into the category of films like Macao which have a little mystery, a little murder and plenty of romance in an exotic locale. Obviously Gilda is as superior to Macao as Rita Hayworth is superior to Jane Russell.
What makes Gilda work so well is Rita Hayworth and the smoldering intensity of Glenn Ford. I definitely plan to watch more of his movies, having recently seen The Big Heat I am really starting to love the rage just below the surface he brings to a role. Rita Hayworth is beautiful and trouble, just like in The Lady From Shanghai.
The only thing I wish the movie had was some explanation at the end of what exactly Gilda did to make John hate her so much, obviously Gilda cheated on him but he really burned. The movie also takes place entirely on studio sets with no real locations. A few scenes in Buenos Aires would have been nice and it would have been great showing them leave on an Ocean Liner. Otherwise I think the movie is very good.
This film is further proof that when the frame is full of interesting men and beautiful women and lovingly filmed in black and white the flaws of a film are easy to overlook.
Tim Brophy
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