RoR: Forum

This is a publicity still for Gilda from www.doctormacro.com
(Edited by Ted Keer
on 5/02, 7:24pm)

Post 1

Wednesday, May 2, 2007 - 9:55pm

I remember watching clips of this movie (and eventually the whole thing) in two philosophy classes I took my freshman year of college. My professor used it to explain aesthetic choices in filmmaking as part of a Philosophy of the Arts class, and then in Philosophy of love and sex to have us analyze the dynamics between men and women in the film. Admittedly, it was a favorite of his.

Post 2

Wednesday, May 2, 2007 - 10:19pm

The story is extremely Randian in its complex layers of conflicts, suspense, who will betray whom, and Farrell's treatment of Gilda after Mundson's death, forcing her to be faithful in death to the man she had tried to cheat in life was wonderful. "Hate's a powerful emotion...Johnny...."

The plot is tight. There is not one unmotivated action, one convenient coincidence, one deus ex machina.

Welles' Lady from Shanghai which plays this weekend on TCM is also brilliant, although a bit muddled in the motivations of some of the characters. It seems that Welles simply couldn't stop writing and rewriting. But Hayworth as a platinum blonde femme fatale is stunning - you can't take your eyes off her. And if you've seen Gilda, the allusions to Gilda in Shanghai, which is an entirely separate creation, are quite interesting.

Didn't they put Hayworth's picture on one of the Atom Bombs?

Ted Keer

Post 3

Thursday, May 3, 2007 - 3:14am

As soon as I saw "Gilda" title, I knew Ted posted the item. <g>

I haven't watched the movie in years, but I remember how clearly I could see "color" in the B&W. That face. That hair. Those dresses. Brilliant.

Post 4

Thursday, May 3, 2007 - 6:50am

Teresa, that was damn sexist of you! Or something.

Ted

Post 5

Thursday, May 3, 2007 - 7:08am

This movie came out in 1946. Also that year, another beautiful Gilda was born. I don't think it's a coincidence.

Gilda Radner

Post 6

Thursday, May 3, 2007 - 7:45am

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilda_Radner
"Her mother named her Gilda after the title character played by Rita Hayworth in Gilda."

Post 7

Thursday, May 3, 2007 - 10:50am

I have not viewed this movie, yet, but I can say that movies back in the thirties, forties, and fifties seem to have a lot more to them than films now. To bad the motion picture industry has lost its sense of the great and the magnificent. Most of our current films about about losers and average ‘Joe’ type people. EMT would be proud.

Post 8

Thursday, May 3, 2007 - 1:13pm

Here are some off the cuff film noir recommendations, the links take you to the TCM archive listings:

The Third Man:Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Orson Welles
To Have and Have Not: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall
Touch of Evil: Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, Orson Welles
The Lady from Shanghai: Orson Welles, Rita Hayworth
The Big Sleep: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall

The first three movies are flawless. The last two have confused plots due to cuts and rewrites, but are nonetheless much better than anything recent. Welles directed the first, third and fourth, although he was not credited as director for the first.

Again, The Lady from Shanghai will air this Sunday 9am. Here's a still:

(Edited by Ted Keer on 5/03, 1:18pm)

Post 9

Thursday, May 3, 2007 - 1:38pm