Gilda (1946)

Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford, and George Macready star in Director Charles Vidor’s 1946 film noir classic GILDA, which features a (barely) subtextual bisexual love triangle between its three lead characters.

GILDA | 1946 | USA

 Director: Charles Vidor

Screenplay: Jo Eisinger, Marion Parsonnet & Ben Hecht

 Cast: Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford, George Macready, Joseph Calleia, Steven Geray, Joe Sawyer, Gerald Mohr and Mark Roberts

When Johnny’s implied lover/employer Ballin introduces his new wife, Johnny is stunned to see it’s his ex-girlfriend Gilda (Hayworth, making one of Hollywood’s most iconic screen entrances). As the scene plays out, an ambiguous tension builds: is Johnny jealous that Gilda is with Ballin? That Ballin is with Gilda? Maybe both?

Earlier, Ballin (Macready) had picked up Johnny (Ford) on the docks at night (gasp!) – the millionaire offered Johnny his business card and later hired him as a manager at his Casino. Johnny agreed to be part of a relationship of three: Ballin, himself, and Ballin’s ultra-phallic cane, which contains a hidden knife at the tip. When Gilda enters the scene, Johnny is clearly jealous he is no longer Ballin’s top priority, and he dramatically returns his house key.

In a 1972 Focus on Film article Ford is quoted as saying, “Of course, we knew their relationship was homosexual,” when discussing the classic. The relationship remains subtextual, of course, since the Hays Code would not have allowed a queer relationship in a 1940s Hollywood movie.

As the story continues, Johnny watches Gilda at Ballin’s request, and the two continuously clash. It’s implied Gilda knows the men had been intimate - she even asks whether their former three-way relationship was with a man or a woman:

“Is it a him, or a her?” Gilda asks.

It’s surprising this line slipped past the Hays office - they missed a lot of innuendo in this one.

While Johnny is busy surveilling Gilda, Ballin’s criminal dealings catch up with him and he attempts to flee. With Ballin gone, Johnny and Gilda are left alone. The question becomes: will they stay loyal to him?

If you haven’t seen Gilda, I won’t spoil the ending. You can find it streaming on Hollywood Suite (Canada), for rent/purchase through AppleTV, YouTube or Amazon, and also on DVD & Blu-ray, with a fantastic special edition through Criterion.

FUN FACT: Rita Hayworth’s iconic “Put the Blame on Mame” number was choreographed by legendary gay choreographer Jack Cole.