Gilda (1946)

An American (Glenn Ford) adrift in Argentina is taken under the wing of a wealthy older man (George Macready). The older man owns a casino and makes the American the casino's manager. But when the man shows up with a new wife (Rita Hayworth), the tension between the three protagonists threatens to eat them up alive. Directed by Charles Vidor (LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME), this classic film noir is pure enjoyment on its surface level, one of the best of its genre. But it also has one of the most complicated and complex subtexts in 1940s cinema dealing with both sexual ambiguity and power playing. This is one of Glenn Ford's best performances and he's matched by Macready's manipulative egoist. Then, of course, there's Rita Hayworth at her most iconic and movie goddess-y, she positively sizzles! Mention should be made of Rudolph Mate's luscious B&W cinematography as well as Jean Louis's costumes for Hayworth. With Joseph Calleia, Steven Geray, Joe Sawyer, Mark Roberts and Gerald Mohr.