Gilda
Rita Hayworth as Gilda (circa 1946)
This digital painting of Rita Hayworth continues the looser style of painting adopted in recent pictures. It diverges slightly from the original promotional photography by Columbia Pictures where the the full figure of Hayworth is visible. I chose to end the image slightly above the knee for aesthetic purposes as I think it looks better.
Originally released in 1946 during the "golden age" of American cinema, Gilda is a primarily tale of brooding romantic animosity set within the backdrop of organized crime in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It’s lavish production established the film as a cult classic and Rita Hayworth's dazzling performance in the titular role ensured her place as one of Hollywood's iconic actresses.
The film centres around the bitter one-upmanship occurring between Hayworth's Gilda and her former lover Johnny Farrell (played by Glenn Ford) as they are reunited quite by chance in Argentina. Gilda is now the wife of a German gangster and illegal casino owner, while Johnny is hired as his manager not long after arriving in the country. Both deny that they have known each other when asked by her husband who is not entirely convinced. Barely able to tolerate each other's presence, Gilda blatantly cavorts and flirts with men trying to provoke Johnny into jealously, while Johnny in turn has her watched and restricts her movements. He then goes as far as marrying then abandoning her after Gilda’s husband apparently dies in a plane crash. Gilda’s attempts to break free from her unhappy situation are thwarted every time by Farrell but the star-crossed couple eventually reconcile after the police close down the casino and it is revealed that Gilda was never unfaithful to Farrell or her late husband.
For all of Gilda's glamourous femme fatal allure, outward confidence and supreme power over men, there lies a deep-seated vulnerability and a certain degree of self-loathing that she is seen as nothing more than the object of male desire. Indeed, she is the victim of Farrell’s cruel manipulations in the misguided belief that she had originally cheated on him and then lives a hollow existence as the trophy wife of a wealthy and ruthless gangster. In some ways, the film can be considered as a cautionary tale of the human price of beauty and all the psychological games that people play as a result.
The complexities of human relationships aside, Gilda is a showcase of elegance and glamour during a time when the world was recovering from the upheavals of global war. Consequently, the style and aesthetics of this iconic production had a profound influence upon popular culture over the decades since its release, and it has been referenced numerous times in media and in other films. Yet as the decade that brought us Gilda fades from living memory, Hayworth's portrayal of this beguiling yet tragic character, coupled with her timeless, show-stealing looks still has the power to resonate with current generations of viewers. Well directed and superbly cast, Gilda is an example of Hollywood production values at their best.
Title: Gilda
Medium: Digital Painting on MacBook Pro using Sketchbook.
Completed: 7th February 2024.
Artist: Stuart Carrol.
Source: Gilda (1946) (imdb.com)
