Just seeking group reactions
"Gilda is not a musical, even though Hayworth was a musical star for the audiences of 1946. Although she had appeared in nonmusicals as she climbed to stardom (Only Angels Have Wings, Susan and God, The Lady in Question), she had reached the top through her wonderful dancing (and extraordinary glamour) in two musicals with Fred Astaire (You’ll Never Get Rich, You Were Never Lovelier), one with Gene Kelly (Cover Girl), one 20th Century–Fox color success, My Gal Sal, and Columbia’s Tonight and Every Night. To express Gilda’s frustrations, it was suitable for Hayworth to sing (dubbed) and dance. Yet Gilda, the movie, is a film noir with danger, suicide, murder, corruption, Nazis, and barely submerged sexuality. Gilda, a nonmusical, is nevertheless defined by the musical performance of “Put the Blame on Mame.” In fact, Rita Hayworth’s career has also been defined by it" from Movie Musicals by Jennifer Basinger
"Elements of film noir in Gilda: Rita Hayworth is perhaps the best example of a femme fatale in all of film noir. There is definitely a sinister underworld that includes Ballin Mundson and the German mobsters. Most of the action takes place at night. Lots of night clubs and jazz music Double crosses and betrayals galore between the three leads Guns play a huge part. ..Rita Hayworth did not do her own singing in this film. Her songs were actually sung by singer Anita Ellis." From Memorable Film Noir Movies of the 1940s and 1950s by Gary Koca
The film's plot is set in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Johnny Farrell (Glenn Ford) is a small-time American gambler who is caught cheating at blackjack in a casino. He is rescued by Ballin Mundson (George Macready), the casino's owner, who offers him a job as his assistant. The two men become friends, but their relationship is complicated by the fact that Gilda (Rita Hayworth), Mundson's new wife, is Farrell's former lover.
Gilda is a complex and ambiguous character. She is both alluring and dangerous, and she seems to enjoy playing with the men around her. She is also a victim of her own circumstances, and she is ultimately unable to escape the cycle of violence and betrayal that surrounds her
Gilda was a critical and commercial success when it was released in 1946. It was praised for its stylish visuals, Hayworth's performance, and the film's exploration of themes of sexuality and power. The film has since been cited as one of the greatest film noirs ever made, and it has had a lasting influence on popular culture.
Mel Ulm