Not Just A Hat Rack - Gilda/Rita

"Push my hat back Johnny."

Ok, let me explain. Having been dazzled by the beauty that is Rita Hayworth, in haste I selected a photo of Rita in a most fabulous hat, to then use possibly her most famous role as Gilda in the film of the same name, as the point of reference. However, I failed to acknowledge that the photo is not from the film.

What to do? Forego a reel for Rita? Sketch another picture? She does wear a few hats in Gilda after all. Nay!! Instead, I chose a clip from Gilda with Rita still adorning a hat, kept the sketch & wrote a blurb explaining all this (which no one asked for).

The Hat:

Is it a wonder I was so, ahem, drawn to Rita in this hat? It is large, flexible and extravagant, perhaps a bit of a distraction, but Rita still manages remain the focal point.

In the film Gilda, our introduction to her is a way of highlighting her beauty. She appears on the screen with a head flip, that thick, stable hair bouncing into place and her smile radiating. Not only is the title of the film all about her, but this scene is too. Her smile soon turns downward at the sight of Johnny, who without explicitly being told, we are aware the two know one another and have a history.

Rita as Gilda is an object of desire, someone men obsess over, die over, kill over, or die for, or kill for.

This hat, you might say, as absurdly large and grand as it is, tries desperately to take the attention away from Rita, but fails. Much like in Gilda/as Gilda, you cannot take your eyes off her.

Not Just A Hat Rack - Gilda/Rita reel on Instagram