Gilda

“Gambling and women don’t mix”, Ballin tells Johnny as he hires him to work in his illegal casino in Buenos Aires. When Johnny recognises his boss’s wife as a former lover, the famous line from Charles Vidor’s film proves all too true. Between Gilda and Johnny unfolds a dangerous game fueled by resentment and desire – one bound to lead to trouble. Produced by Virginia Van Upp – one of the few female producers in Hollywood at the time – Gilda is a seductive blend of film noir and melodrama infused with Argentine heat. Rita Hayworth plays with her own sex-symbol image with dazzling confidence, delivering one of the most iconic femme fatale performances in cinema history. Her famous glove striptease and performance of “Put the Blame on Mame” reveal a bitter truth about women who refuse to conform to patriarchal norms: it is always easiest to blame the notorious woman.

Daria Sienkiewicz

Charles Vidor (1900–1959) – American film director of Hungarian origin and a respected craftsman of the Hollywood studio era. A versatile filmmaker, he worked across many genres and for numerous major studios. His films featured some of the biggest stars of the time, including Rita Hayworth, Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Ida Lupino, Randolph Scott, and Grace Kelly.