Put the Blame on Mame

The movie

Gilda is a 1946 American film noir directed by Charles Vidor. The cast includes Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford and George Macready.

It is one of the most cult classic movies in movie history and quite interesting in the way it deals with sexual issues.

Johnny Farrell (played by Ford) is an American newly arrived in Buenos Aires after World War II. He wins a lot of money cheating at dice games. After he wins at blackjack in an illegal high-class casino, he is taken to the casino’s owner Ballin Mundson (played by Macready). Farrell soon becomes Mundson’s trusted casino manager.

Mundson has an extremely beautiful new wife, Gilda (played by Hayworth). He has married after only knowing her for a day. Johnny and Gilda instantly recognize each other from the past. Yet, they both deny it when Mundson questions them. Mundson assigns Farrell to watch over Gilda. The pair is consumed with hatred for each other. Moreover, Gilda cavorts with men at all hours.

Later, it is revealed that Mundson is involved with some German mobsters, who, now that the war is over, want to take over the business.

The plot is unfolded with many adventurous scenes. When Mundson is presumed to be dead, Gilda inherits his estate. She then marries Farrell. But it turns out that this marriage reveals the real character of Farrell, who in fact wants to take revenge of Gilda for her previous life.

When Mundson reappears, things follow an unexpected course and finally Farrell and Gilda reconcile. It is remarkable that for some reviewers, the unusual happy ending almost ruined the film experience.

The scene

Gilda is performing at the casino, singing and dancing the famous “Put the Blame on Mame” (the singing voice was dubbed by Anita Ellis). This scene has been admired as one of the most iconic in the way that it combines the sexual issue with the idea of the femme fatal.

Gilda is the best-known performance of Rita Hayworth and certainly deserves a leading place in any cinephile library.