Review of Gilda (1946) by Larry J — 26 Sep 2009

Possibly my absolute favourite 'Queer Classic'. It always surprises me how many people don't see the very rich gay subtext at the heart of 'Gilda'. It's always been so obvious to me that it's barely a subtext at all and almost becomes the driving force of the plot. The opening scene alone, as George Macready (at his most sinister and insinuating) picks up Glenn Ford (at his most boyishly handsome) at the docks, in a scene that practically simmers with innuendo (the lighting of the cigarettes, Ballin's loving description of his cane, "you must lead a gay life?"). And when Rita Hayworth turns up (burning up the celluloid in her most glamorous and filthiest role), it does nothing to 'straighten' proceedings - on the contrary it simply completes a very literal ménage à trois (in no uncertain terms, Gilda mockingly informs Johnny that he is as much 'kept' by Ballin as she is).

But even without the gay 'subtext' Gilda is still one of the Golden Age's finest. It does lose some of it's vitality and delicious deviancy when Macready disappears from the proceedings - and, inevitably, it's 'queerness' dims a little. Also, the very 'tidy' moral ending is a bit of a letdown. But these are only minor flaws to be endured. Marvelous!