![]() ![]() When finally, she makes eye contact with Astaire, a shift of power has taken place, where instead of Hayworth keeping up with Astaire-Astaire must keep up with Hayworth. She is exacting, mirroring Astaire’s performance with an air of certain aloofness. It takes Astaire only a short amount of time of scrutinized observation to be convinced Hayworth’s character knows precisely what she is doing. ![]() In the musical comedy YOU’LL NEVER GET RICH (‘41), Hayworth tap danced with Astaire in “Boogie Barcarolle,” and by the glint in her eye and the slight wobble of her head, it is apparent that she has cleverly devised a ploy that Astaire seems to have graciously fallen into. Between the staged numbers of “The Show Must Go On,” “Poor John,” “Put Me to the Test” and Hayworth descending from the heavens in a seemingly endless swirling stage, Columbia’s introduction to Technicolor and choice of Hayworth and Kelly as its stars was a clear success. In Columbia’s first Technicolor and highest grossing film, COVER GIRL (‘44), Hayworth displayed her perfected tap-dancing skills alongside Kelly. She was one of a handful of actresses who performed with both Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire, who was thoroughly impressed with how quickly she could learn complicated routines. “Every man I knew went to bed with Gilda… and woke up with me.” Although she performed in a series of films, it was the role of Gilda that not only catapulted her into stardom but would negatively plague her off screen for the majority of her life. ![]() ![]() She was named the “Love Goddess” of the ‘40s and was neck-in-neck with Betty Grable as the pinup favorite of the era. In 1987, Hayworth tragically passed away at the age of 68 from the progressively debilitating disease of Alzheimer’s. In 1974, both of her brothers died within one week of each other. She later became involved in a series of abusive marriages which not only contributed to her alcoholism but left her financially crippled. Shockingly, the process of her ethnic erasure was publicized and celebrated by Columbia. She shed extra pounds and lightened her naturally dark hair color in order to anglicize her Latin features. She endured three years of painful electrolysis of her hairline, giving her a higher forehead and helping to square her rounded face. As the result of her first husband and manager’s unabashed promotion, Hayworth was offered a contract by Columbia Pictures, beginning her tumultuous career-long professional relationship with the infamous studio head, Harry Cohn.Īlthough she was seemingly the envy of the modern world, Hayward led a tragic life. She was dropped from her contract after five films. At age 16, after being discovered dancing as her father’s partner in Tijuana, she appeared in the Fox Studio production of DANTE’S INFERNO (‘35). Hayworth’s film debut was an uncredited role at the age of eight in the short LA FIESTA (‘26). Her mother, a former Ziegfeld Girl, was of English and Irish descent. Her father was from a generational line of Spanish dancers. Trained in multiple dance disciplines from the age of three, the Brooklyn-born, Margarita Carmen Cansino is somewhat falsely thought of as fully Latina. All other dancers must fall back due to her sheer magnetism, and this is how I was introduced to the beguiling Rita Hayworth. There is only Hayworth, and because she is unequivocally confident within herself, we are confident in her also. Hayworth glides with sure-footed exuberance and joy during her opening number in DOWN TO EARTH, and even though her plan is apparent, her subsequent domination is rightfully justified. The film DOWN TO EARTH (‘47) was not one of Hayworth’s most popular features by far, but full-length Technicolor musicals available on YouTube during a restless night are always a draw. In 1994, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION reintroduced Rita Hayworth to a new generation, but from her most famous film role in GILDA (‘46) to years later, her effervescence and distinct beauty remains. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |