2019 Blind Spot Series: Gilda

Directed by Charles Vidor and screenplay by Marion Parsonnet from a story by E.A. Ellington with adaptation by Jo Eisinger and un-credited work from Ben Hecht, Gilda is the story of a kingpin’s wife who is caught in a love triangle between her husband and a former lover who manages her husband’s casino. Set in the casinos of Bueno Aires, the film is a noir picture that play into a woman whose sex appeal drives two men to a breaking point as the titular character is played by Rita Hayworth. Also starring Glenn Ford, George Macready, Joseph Calleia, and Steven Geray. Gilda is a dazzling and exhilarating film from Charles Vidor.

A gambler meets a casino owner as he is hired to manage the man’s casino where he finds himself meeting the owner’s wife who was an old flame of the gambler. It’s a film that play into an uneasy love triangle of sorts yet there is this love-hate relationship between Gilda and the gambler Johnny Farrell (Glenn Ford) who hide their past from Gilda’s husband in the casino owner Ballin Mundson (George Macready) who eventually becomes suspicious about them. Marion Parsonnet’s screenplay is largely told through Farrell’s perspective in a traditional film-noir style of voice-over narration and a language that features stylized dialogue that add to the tension in the film. Notably as it play into this tense atmosphere in the casino in Buenos Aires where Farrell is helping Mundson watching over the casino as it relates to cheats and such.

Still, Farrell does become concerned about Mundson’s business as it relates to German businessman who want to work with Mundson following the aftermath of World War II. Mundson’s business would also attract the attention of Argentine government agent Obregon (Joseph Calleia) who is also suspicious about Mundson’s dealings. Things get more complicated during the second half as it would relate to Farrell trying to steer Gilda away from other men believing that Mundson would get hurt if he knew the truth. Yet, it would play into an uneasy alliance between the two during its third act that would create more tension and intrigue.

Charles Vidor’s direction does have some style in terms of the lavish presentation of Buenos Aires though it was shot mainly in studio lots in Hollywood. While there’s some wide shots of the streets as well as interior of the casino, Vidor aims for something much simpler as it play into the dramatic tension between Gilda and Farrell through close-ups and medium shots. Vidor would also use some intricate compositions as it would show what Mundson is seeing in the casino on the second floor while it has this air of controlled chaos unless something goes wrong where Farrell would take care of the situation. The scenes between Gilda and Farrell have Vidor play up the sexual tension with Gilda being quite forward to get Farrell to do something as a scene of her singing and playing a guitar late one night is a key example of this romantic interplay.

Things would get more exhilarating during its third act due to a couple of musical numbers involving Gilda who would try to wow men just to get attention or to rile Farrell up who feels immense loyalty to Mundson. It would lead to revelations about Mundson’s business as well as why so many people are after him as Vidor would play up the suspense in the third act with Gilda and Farrell being forced to work together to stop Mundson. Overall, Vidor crafts a scintillating yet exciting film about a gambler dealing with a former flame who is married to his new boss at a casino.

Cinematographer Rudolph Mate does amazing work with the film’s black-and-white photography as it help set a mood for some of the scenes at the club including the musical performances with its usage of light and shadow. Editor Charles Nelson does terrific work with the editing as it is straightforward with a few fade-outs to help structure the story along with rhythmic cuts for the suspenseful moments. Art directors Stephen Goosson and Van Nest Polglase, along with set decorator Robert Priestley, do brilliant work with the look of the interior of the casino and its bar as well as the Mundson home and his office overlooking the casino.

Costume designer Jean Louis does excellent work with the costumes that focuses mainly on the clothes Gilda wears including the iconic strapless black dress for the big musical number. Makeup artist Clay Campbell does nice work with the look of Gilda to play into her glamorous persona as well as the steely look of Mundson. Sound recordist Lambert E. Day does superb work with the sound as it play into the raucous atmosphere of the casinos as well as the exterior scenes involving cars. The film’s music soundtrack supervised by M.W. Stoloff and Marlin Skiles is wonderful for its mixture of orchestral-based stock music that is used sparingly along with some big-band music that include some of the songs that Gilda sings.

The film’s incredible cast include some notable small roles from Ludwig Donath and Lionel Royce as a couple of Germans, Joe Sawyer as a hood of Mundson in Casey, Don Douglas as a lawyer Gilda goes out with late in the film in Thomas Langford, Mark Roberts as a man flirting with Gilda in Gabe Evans, and Steven Geray in a fantastic performance as the washroom attendant Uncle Pio as a man who isn’t impressed with Farrell as he calls him “Mr. Peasant” as he’s someone who is a lot smarter than people give him credit for as he’s an observer with some philosophical views about what Farrell is going through. Joseph Calleia is excellent as Detective Maurice Obregon as a police investigator who is suspicious about Mundson’s business dealings outside of Argentina as he believes that Farrell knows something while is a man that is incorruptible and wants to help Farrell.

George Macready is brilliant as Ballin Mundson as a casino owner who gives Farrell a job to manage the casino while he is also trying to do other things while becomes concerned about Gilda and questions about her past as it’s a chilling yet engaging performance from Macready. Glenn Ford is amazing as Johnny Farrell as a gambler who is hired by Mundson to manage the casino where he feels indebted to Mundson but is troubled by the presence of Gilda as he copes with his feelings and disdain for her as it’s one of his great performances. Finally, there’s Rita Hayworth in a phenomenal performance as the titular character as a woman who is married to a casino owner as she is someone trying to get attention and to be loved while also riling up both her husband and former love as it’s a performance full of charisma and oozing sex appeal along with this air of ferocity that makes it an iconic performance from Hayworth.

Gilda is a spectacular film from Charles Vidor that features great performances from Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford, and George Macready. Along with its ensemble cast, gorgeous photography, dazzling costumes, and thrilling moments of suspense and drama. It’s a noir film that manages to hit all of the right notes while being a study of emotions and temptation between two former lovers who both have a bad history in this love-hate relationship. In the end, Gilda is a sensational film from Charles Vidor.

Charles Vidor Films: (The Mask of Fu Manchu) – (Sensation Hunters) – (Double Door) – (Strangers All) – (The Arizonians) – (His Family Tree) – (A Doctor’s Diary) – (The Great Gambini) – (Romance of the Redwoods) – (Blind Alley) – (Those High Grey Walls) – (My Son, My Son!) – (The Lady in Question) – (Ladies in Retirement) – (New York Town) – (The Tuttles of Tahiti) – (The Desperadoes) – (Cover Girl) – (Together Again) – (A Song to Remember) – (Over 21) – (The Loves of Carmen) – (Hans Christian Andersen) – (Thunder in the East) – (Rhapsody) – (Love Me or Leave Me) – (The Swan) – (The Joker is Wild) – (A Farewell to Arms (1957 film)) – (Song Without End)

© thevoid99 2019

3:10 to Yuma (1957 film)

Based on the short story by Elmore Leonard, 3:10 to Yuma is the story about a rancher who accompanies a captured outlaw to a train station where he’s to go to prison while trying to evade the outlaw’s gang. Directed by Delmer Daves and screenplay by Halstead Wells, the film is a western that explores the complex relationship between a rancher and a criminal as they test each other in a game of wits and honor. Starring Glenn Ford, Van Heflin, Felicia Farr, Leora Dana, Henry Jones, and Richard Jaeckel. 3:10 to Yuma is an engaging yet thrilling western from Delmer Daves.

The film is about a notorious criminal who is captured by a poor rancher after an encounter they had as the rancher is tasked to bring this criminal on a train to Yuma so he can go to prison. Along the way, the rancher has to evade a gang who is hell-bent on freeing their leader as this rancher named Dan Evans (Van Heflin) is dealing with intelligence and drive of Ben Wade (Glenn Ford). Though Evans is aware of how dangerous and cunning Wade is as he refuses to give in to Wade’s charms. A growing sense of respect between the two emerges in the course of the day as Wade offers Evans a way out so he can save his ranch. Still, it all plays to mind games where other forces start to create trouble leading to a climax where these two men have to do something for the mission at hand.

Halstead Wells’ screenplay definitely plays to the myth of the west as it is about pride and honor where two different men have very two different ideas about what is right and such. While Ben Wade is a criminal that does do very despicable things, he’s a man with limits as he doesn’t like to kill someone and has respect for the dead. Dan Evans is a man that just wants to do what is right for his family and gain their respect no matter how bad things are. Once Evans is given the task to accompany Wade to the train station, there’s complications not just from Wade’s gang but also people such as a stage line owner named Butterfield (Robert Emhardt) who is a man only interested in money. The people that would become Wade’s entourage all have reasons to want to put Wade in prison but there’s Wade’s gang led by his right-hand man Charlie Prince (Richard Jackel) who is a more wild individual that has no qualms about killing people and such.

Delmer Daves’ direction is filled with an array of exotic images of the American West that is filled with a lot of mythology and ideas about honor. Daves infuses a lot of unique compositions in the way he puts Wade and Evans into a scene to play out the tension while creating an intimacy that adds an element of suspense. There’s also some wide shots to capture the wide depth of field of the scenes in the small towns and such while using close-ups to help play out the drama. There are also moments where things do get very thrilling where Daves know how to create a sense of action but keep things simple but also engaging. Overall, Daves creates a very fascinating yet captivating film about justice and doing what is right.

Cinematographer Charles Lawton Jr. does amazing work with the film’s black-and-white photography to create some unique lighting schemes for some of the film’s exterior scenes as well as some shadings to help play out the atmosphere. Editor Al Clark does excellent work to create some style in the cutting from the use of transitional dissolves to some methodical cuts in the film’s suspense. Art director Frank Hotaling and set decorators William Kiernan and Robert Priestly do brilliant work with the sets to create the feel of the west along with the design of the saloons and hotels of the time.

Costume designer Jean Louis does superb work with the costumes from the clothes the men wear to the dresses that the women wear. The sound work of J.S. Westmoreland is terrific for the atmosphere it creates in the suspense scenes along with the layer of sounds in the shootout scenes. The film’s music by George Duning is fantastic for its sweeping orchestral music filled with dramatic touches as well as heavy compositions for the suspenseful moments along with a title song co-written with Ned Washington sung by Frankie Laine.

The film’s cast is marvelous as it features some notable small performances from Barry Curtis and Jerry Hartleben as Evans’ sons, Henry Jones as a town drunk seeking redemption, Ford Rainey as a Marshal, Sheridan Comerate as a man seeking Wade in an act of vengeance, and Robert Emhardt as the opportunistic stage line owner Butterfield whose only reason to capture Wade is money. Felicia Farr is wonderful as the bartender Emmy who is charmed by Wade while Leora Dana is superb as Evans’ wife who is hoping for things to turn out well for her family. Richard Jaeckel is excellent as the wild Charlie Prince as a man who is seeking to retrieve Wade in order to continue his pursuits as a criminal.

Van Heflin is remarkable as Dan Evans as a man who is full of pride but also a man deeply troubled by his misfortunes as he hopes to gain something despite the temptation that Wade offers. Glenn Ford is brilliant as the criminal Ben Wade as a man who is a notorious criminal but with a sense of morals as he adds a complexity and charm to his character. Notably as he and Heflin have chemistry in playing out their differences as well as similarities as men of honor.

3:10 to Yuma is a tremendous film from Delmer Daves that features outstanding performances from Glenn Ford and Van Heflin. The film is definitely one of the most compelling westerns that is highlighted by its suspense and themes of justice and honor. Notably as it also adds new layers into the mind of a criminal as well as the flaws of a hero. In the end, 3:10 to Yuma is a sensational film from Delmer Daves.

Delmer Daves Films: (Destination Tokyo) - (The Very Thought of You (1944 film)) - (Hollywood Canteen) - (Pride of the Marines) - (The Red House) - (Dark Passage) - (To the Victor) - (A Kiss in the Dark) - (Task Force) - (Broken Arrow (1950 film)) - (Bird of Paradise (1951 film)) - (Return of the Texan) - (Treasure of the Golden Condor) - (Never Let Me Go (1953 film)) - (Demetrius and the Gladiators) - (Drum Beat) - (Jubal) - (The Last Wagon) - (Cowboy (1958 film)) - (Kings Go Forth) - (The Badlanders) - (The Hanging Tree) - (A Summer Place) - (Parrish) - (Susan Slade) - (Rome Adventure) - (Spencer’s Mountain) - (Youngblood Hawke) - (The Battle of Villa Fiorita)

Related: 3:10 to Yuma (2007 film)

© thevoid99 2013