Rita Hayworth created her Hollywood “Love Goddess” legend in this tailor-made romantic drama, which Eddie Muller has described as “more tango than movie.” What plot there is here is merely an excuse for an exotic and erotic roundelay about a pair of tempestuous American lovers in thrall to a Nazi casino owner in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Yes, that is the plot. The film’s amazing sexual heat—including Rita’s legendary “Put the Blame on Mame” number—captivated audiences, making Gilda one of the highest-grossing films of the forties. Interestingly, much of the story's rich deviance slipped past the censors (and most viewers) at the time; today, the film is regarded as one of the greatest examples of filmmakers working around Hollywood’s restrictive Production Code. One of the last several films photographed by the legendary Rudolph Maté as he transitioned from cinematographer to director.
Music Box Theatre screens films of all genres and from every era of cinema, both new releases and repertory. These films may sometimes contain upsetting, outdated, or offensive material. While we aim to introduce many of our screenings, we do not always provide warnings about potentially triggering content within the films we screen. We encourage our patrons to research the film before they attend using trailers, reviews, or content information found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com.
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