GILDA, the 1946 drama from Columbia Pictures, was surely the film that made Hollywood star, Rita Hayworth, an international screen legend. I have been in awe of Rita Hayworth's talent ever since I was a pre-teen growing up in Los Angeles. Acting-wise, Hayworth was never mentioned in the same category with Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn or Barbara Stanwyck. But, like Stanwyck, she could effortlessly go from comedy roles (in her case, musical comedy roles) to being a femme fatale in film noir thrillers such as Orson Welles' THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI (1947).
Welles had Hayworth dye her hir blonde for that role.
When I was a kid watching her old movies on television, this was back in the day before VHS tapes, DVD rentals, streaming and cable. I saw her movies on local stations. The night I saw her dance with Fred Astaire in YOU'LL NEVER GET RICH (1941) with an original score by Cole Porter, I felt like I was experiencing a joyful out-of-body experience.
Their 1942 musical comedy, YOU WERE NEVER LOVELIER, also thrilled me. They introduced the Jerome Kern & Jonny Mercer song, "I'm Old-Fashioned." Nan Wynn sang for Rita.
With her famous red hair getting the Technicolor treatment in the 1944 musical, COVER GIRL, she was once again fabulous as she danced with Gene Kelly.
Then came the glove strip number to "Put the Blame on Mame" in GILDA, a noir love story. (Rita's singing voice was usually dubbed in her musicals. Anita Ellis did Rita's vocals in GILDA.)
In later years, Rita Hayworth showed her sensitive dramatic skills in MEET SADIE THOMPSON (1953), SEPARATE TABLES (1958) and the murder trial courtroom film, THE STORY ON PAGE ONE (1959). In that courtroom drama, she had scenes opposite famed acting teacher Sanford Meisner and was directed by Clifford Odets. I've long felt that Rita Hayworth deserves more appreciation for her acting. She was really quite good and versatile.
I love Rita Hayworth's film work. I've mentioned it in my decades of entertainment reporter on radio and national TV -- work that started in the 1970s. This week on Twitter, I tweeted that Hayworth may not have been in a league with Bette Davis and Katharine Hepburn (acting-wise), but she was a good, sincere and talented actress -- as she displayed in GILDA. GILDA was airing on TCM at the time.
This post is for all those who are tweeting me the information that she was also a dancer.
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