underrated?
I am I the only one who thinks this movie was severely overlooked? I mena this movie should be right up there with casablanca etc in my opinion at least anyone else agree?
shareYes indeed, I fully agree, and still wonder. "GILDA", a very, very underrated movie. -(
"GILDA" is well-known everywhere and overall in a positive way too, but we don't notice that in the IMDB-score. Weird... unfortunately.
And, about 113 votes with a 4 or less (??), so the average score drops too.
I now have seen this film/DVD 6 times and still enjoy it! (And I even have a sealed back-up DVD copy, like "CASABLANCA").
I just visited "OUT OF THE PAST", and it has a huge score 10 votes. I presume by the Robert Mitchum and/or Kirk Douglas fans.
So, Glenn Ford and Rita Hayworth fans: "Are you decent?" Vote!
And "DOUBLE INDEMNITY" has a huge score too; watched it 3 times... overrated and even a hype too.
"GILDA" is on a level with "LAURA", "CASABLANCA" for instance, so a score of at least 8.0 is apropiate in my opinion. Great dialogues, a great atmosphere too. Rita's stunning performance still echoes after 60 years (except in the IMDB-score), great!!
Even Joseph Calleia, as in "THE GLASS KEY", has a great performance too.
Maybe the guys of "Criterion" will really restore "GILDA", and this will help to boost the IMDB-score too.
Robert
Gilda is probably slightly overrated or is properly rated.
Please don't get me wrong, because I like GILDA a lot. But, entertaining as it is, GILDA is held back by 3 main characters who are all one-dimensional and underdeveloped.
Gilda is a believable character and Hayworth has real radiant energy, but too many scenes are set up just to display her in the nice lighting & style of the Hollywood Glamour Machine. We get hints that she has been more than just a beautiful unscrupulous golddigger, or perhaps less, but during the movie Gilda is just that: a beautiful unscrupulous golddigger. Because Hayworth is so likeable, we never really hate Gilda, but we should.
Ballin is a crime syndicate heavyweight who is very generous(?), and manages to be made a fool and cuckolded...even though he suspects it! Ballin is not a believable character.
Ford as Johnny is a quiet tough guy, among the easiests roles in all of acting, but an actor like Bogart would have given Johnny a softer side. This is no real complaint against Ford, who plays the role well and with a sense of edgy menace. I think this is Glenn Ford's best role, but that's not saying very much.
The reason why GILDA is as *well-rated* as it is, is also its main fault: The audience is forced to like Gilda on the power of Hayworth's performance. The same can be said of Scarlett in GONE WITH THE WIND, but in that movie we follow Scarlett for four hours and see her in her most intimate and vulnerable moments. We know she feels pain, we know she has some goodness in her. Gilda doesn't get that chance here, because the movie is set in the formulaic conventions of noir-ish predecessors and contemporaries such as CASABLANCA, DOUBLE INDEMNITY, & OUT OF THE PAST. Hayworth's Gilda is just an excellent moll.
Those other films are superior to GILDA because all of their important characters have depth, they have better dialogue and plot resolutions, with crisp acts that fly along and gain meaning with every viewing. GILDA is memorable because of a few glances between Ford & Hayworth, and Hayworth slinging her hair back & parading without a bra in a white blouse. For such a short movie, it lags and only a few scenes really stand out.
That said, I still watch it whenever I can. But it is not overrated, probably the opposite, slightly. Just my opinion.
I don't entirely agree, but I respect your analysis anyway. at least you have well thought out reasons for your opinions.
I think it's underrated just because the characters actually do have more depth than we're led to believe - there's so much subtext, and such a sense of questions left unanswered by the script, for the viewer to come to his own conclusions. In a way that's a weakness, since it leaves itself open to shallow readings, but I prefer it that way to the alternative, being a movie in which everything is spelled out for the audience as if we're dummies. It's why I can watch this movie again and again, because I almost always notice something new when I do - and this board has been (for a nice change!) a great source of insight.. after reading others' responses to the film I can watch it again with a completely clean frame of mind and take their insights into consideration, which is something most films don't allow.
I really think this is one of the rare great ones.
It's interesting that you'd compare it to Casablanca, because it definitely has that feel.. ex-lovers reuniting, the noirish element. Strangely enough, the script was originally written with Bogart in mind. Imagine how that would have turned out.
shareAlso, Casablanca was originally intended for Rita Hayworth.
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Gilda is a decent noirish movie, though not quite good enough to suspend disbelief sufficiently as to the poor plotting. It is primarily, and justifiably, known for the performance of Rita Hayward, one of the most incendiary committed to film. I like Gilda quite a bit. How could any straight man dislike the film with the Put the Blame on Mame dance? However, it is not in the same league with classics like Casablanca, Double Indmnity, or Out of the Past. All those movies are among the best two or three dozen movies ever made (and the two greatest noirs in Double Indmnity and Out of the Past).
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There are striking things in it. It's worth a viewing. But its psychology is a disaster, and structurally it's bizarre/baroque.
shareAbsolutely, one of the greatest films ever watched!
It'a love obsession, why a disaster?
I'm Winston Wolf, I solve problems
And no dream is ever... just a dream...