The 18 best films I've seen in the last 250. part 5

#10: Gilda (1946)... or, Why I Love Glenn Ford
I dread writing about this movie.  Not because it's not worth discussing (obviously) or because it's a deep story that's hard to put into words.  I just loved it so much that I'm afraid to sum it up with a small amount of memories and opinions.  This disservice has already been committed by the short attention span of Americans that only ever recall one or two scenes from this rich and highlight-packed film.  Most people have seen a scene from this film without knowing it.  In "The Shawshank Redemption" Morgan Freeman hoots at the scene you first see Rita Hayworth in where she flips her hair back.  But this film works best as a whole, and what a wonderful movie experience it was!
Glenn Ford is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors.  I've only seen him in five or so movies but the diversity in his roles has been incredible.  I was first introduced to him by the 1950 film "Convicted".  It's not the greatest prison film and I didn't actually find his acting all that great at the time.  He seemed like he was either an awkward actor who was lucky to be involved in so many classic films or a good actor who could play an out-of-place prisoner with mixed emotions.  I now know it was the latter.  After his entertaining comedic performance in "The Gazebo", I knew there was more to this baby-face.  Then in "The Big Heat", Ford juggles portraying a tough-as-nails cop and a sweet family man.  And in the last act of the film he goes through a successful transition becoming a vigilante bent on revenge.  It's obvious to me now that it was the studios that were lucky to have this dynamic and diverse actor and not vise-versa.  And I recently saw the original "3:10 to Yuma" where he was offered the part of the protaganist and wanted to be a bad guy instead for the challenge.  In "Gilda" he plays a grifter-turned-big league casino tycoon and never makes you doubt it for a second.  I've praised him enough so I won't go into other reasons why I'm really starting to look up to this guy.  Look him up on wikipedia though.  It's interesting how much of a Jack of all trades he was.  Especially for an actor!
The script is so dark and witty that it's a wonder that this film isn't mentioned along side other noir greats.  So many scenes stood out, but one always worth mentioning is the scene with Rita Hayworth's despairing "strip tease".  But I won't further encapsulate it like others have.  Just trust me and watch it.