Special Guest Curator! - Highly Unlikely asks, WHAT WAS I THINKING?

(Note from the Curator – The Curator’s movie shelves have become so overwrought with video tapes that our screening area has become compromised. Our physical location is being moved this week, and the Curator is otherwise occupied, carefully, individually, wrapping each of our valued cassette tapes tenderly in bubble wrap. Enjoy this post from our very special guest curator, Highly Unlikely. Next week, New Year’s Resolutions!)

Gilda: WHAT WAS I THINKING?

Do you have a movie that you saw years ago that still holds a place in your heart and is near the top of your list as "Favorite Movies?" Mine is Gilda. When I joined Netflix it was one of the first movies I rented. Could hardly wait to see it again. I should have kept it as a memory.

We first see Glenn Ford, known in the movie as Johnnie, (what else), on his knees in a crap game south of the border. He wins a wad and is dumb enough to walk down the street counting his loot. Naturally he is soon surrounded by thugs ready to relieve him of his winnings. He beats them off without even losing his hat in the scuffle, when out the the blue a dude who obviously doesn't belong in the neighborhood walks up to Johnnie and invites him to his Casino.

Next time we see Johnnie he is in this posh poker palace looking slightly less scruffy than he did on the street. Still on a winning streak, Johnnie makes enough money to make the dealer nervous and he is sent to the principal’s office to account for himself. Seems the principal/casino owner is the same guy who asked Johnnie to come to the Casino in the first place. (Big surprise!) After a work over by the body guards, Johnnie gets his own back by knocking out the chief body guard who subsequently becomes his best friend and the Casino owner not only hires Johnnie, he puts him in charge of the place.

Now Johnnie is dressed to the nines and walking around as if he owns the place. After all, he's the manager, and the boss trusts him so much he has taken off on a vacation. Back from his mysterious trip the Boss has a big surprise for Johnnie. He has a brand new wife who is Johnnies' brand new ex. The tension builds to minus zero.

Now the true character of the Boss is revealed. As if we didn't already know. One look at this guy and you know he's either a smuggler or a Nazi. Anyway to make a short story long, the Boss gets his just desserts and Johnnie and Gilda have a clear field to do whatever they do.

This movie had everything: handsome leading man, gorgeous leading lady, jealous husband, sexual tension up the Kazoo, atmosphere (mostly fog) and was about as dramatic as "Leave it to Beaver."

But that's just me.

Realty school teaches location, location, location. If film makers want their films to wear well they should remember, writers, writers, writers,

See ya,

Highly Unlikely