MovieChat Forums > Gilda (1946) Discussion > unlikable lead (Johnny)

unlikable lead (Johnny)

posted 14 years ago by Clothes-Off
16 replies | jump to latest

He's such an oily character, I really didn't care what happened to him. Of course if Ballin didn't give him a job, we wouldn't have a movie; but a man that powerful wouldn't hire a man who had just cheated him, no matter how loyal he promised to be.

I certainly didn't care if Rita and he ever got (back) together, any man who would strike a woman is no good, period. A similar character would be played by Richard Widmark in Pickup on South Street. Maybe back then supposedly-charming con men could get away with hitting women, but for me it ruined both movies.

I have no problem with an anti-hero, like in The Postman Always Rings Twice, but Johnny just rubbed me the wrong way from the get-go and never redeemed himself. At least Ballin was who he was at face value.

"Well, for once the rich white man is in control!" C. M. Burns

[–] shylibra 14 years ago

Gilda hit Johnny much harder than he did her. She practically beat him up, which eventually led to the legend that Rita knocked out two of Glenn's teeth.

[–] silentraid 14 years ago

It's noir. The characters aren't always supposed to be likable.

[–] Flight_of_Fantasy 12 years ago

What are you talking about? Johnny was BADASS. I honestly could not care less for Gilda (the character, not the movie); Johnny really made the movie for me. My sister and I practically drowned out half the dialog the first time we watched it with our repeated shoutings of "What a badass!"

And as for Johnny hitting Gilda, of course that was wrong, but did you not see the part where Gilda hit him three times, then pounded him with her fists? I notice you don't condemn Gilda for striking him.

"Shall we have a drink before I start to cry?" "That was wonderful."

*beep* awesome.

"He's already attracted to her. Time and monotony will do the rest."

[–] Clothes-Off 12 years ago

Well, I guess badasses--other than Melvin Van Peebles--just don't do it for me. This is probably why, though I can certainly see the excellence of The Godfather, Part II, I don't love it on the level that a lot of other film buffs do. And I don't quote it. A little Tarantino goes a long way with me also.

A badass who is more my cup of tea would be Angela Bassett in Strange days. And I realize I'm far from the target audience just by using the phrase, "cup of tea".

"Well, for once the rich white man is in control!" C. M. Burns

[–] drjukebox 12 years ago

People may have had a hard time liking Glenn Ford both on and off screen, but that should certainly not keep you from enjoying this movie.

[–] jane_bront 9 years ago

I don't know anything about him off screen but he was good as Johnny in Gilda. I'd call the character a cute hustler.

[–] Druffmaul 8 years ago

I didn't particularly like Johnny either. Or Gilda. Or Ballin. Or virtually any character in the whole thing with the possible exception of the little men's room attendant guy. Thankfully, I'm well aware that main characters being likable isn't necessarily a prerequisite for a movie being an enjoyable watch.

[–] Clothes-Off 8 years ago

I've seen plenty of films in which none or very few of the characters are likable, so the word I should have used was unappealing.

Or should I say that it seemed that his character should have come off more likable, but he didn't.

"Well, for once the rich white man is in control!" C. M. Burns

[–] greenbudgie 8 years ago

Glenn Ford is perhaps not the best of actors to cast for a noir. Even though he played tough guys, his usual screen personality has an easy-going side.

[–] phrumpster 8 years ago

Too bad you weren't around around to tell that to Fritz Lang.
I do kinda dig what you're saying, he doesn't seem right in NOIR, but somehow it works. Gilda's his best NOIR performance.

Poets are made by fools like me, but only God can make STD.

[–] Noir-It-All 8 years ago

Regarding "A similar character would be played by Richard Widmark in Pickup on South Street." by Clothes-Off

They had a sado-masochistic relationship. Peters did hit back but not due to that reason, it seemed to me.

Widmark's character, Skip McCoy, never used the Jean Peter's character's first name, Candy (!). He called her "Muffin," slang term for a pickpocket victim.

"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] yunie1281 8 years ago

I agree. He's terrible. He's so cruel and spiteful to her and she's not perfect but she also doesn't decide to imprison him because she's pissy that he wasn't faithful to his spouse who wasn't her and wasn't someone she seemed all that fond of.

I watch a lot of films from the 40s. A lot of noirs. I'm not expecting feminism 101 but he really takes it to another level. He tricks her into marriage and proceeds to treat her like a prisoner. He admits it. He has all the power in their relationship and then he graciously forgives her because she hasn't slept with other people (when not even married to him by the way). Like if she had that would make this behavior acceptable? Then when she tries to escape he tricks her into returning to keep her trapped and has no intention of trying to actually have a marriage. This is the kind of situation noir heroines tend to find themselves in before murdering their cruel husband and probably dying or getting arrested because of the code but you know they deserved better.

I wanted her to get that divorce and find some nice not-abusive husband.

[–] thesnowleopard 8 years ago

Johnny is a PoS for most of the film. This is the person who ditched Gilda and ended up on the streets. Further, the film intends him to be perceived that way. That's what characters like the detective and the tailor (who are on Gilda's side) are for--to show that Johnny is going down an ugly path and the only possible redemption for him is his love for Gilda that he's in denial about. Until he's broken back down to the street, even losing the freedom he took away from Gilda, he can't admit that love and become worthy of her.

I disagree a bit with the detective, though--Gilda isn't the one Johnny is "sick in the head" about. Oh, I do think he loves her, but the person he's "sick in the head" about is really Mundson. He's more Mundson's bitch than Gilda ever could be. Not until Mundson shows back up and betrays him, and and Johnny realizes Gilda was right about Mundson (that he's nuts), does his obsession with Mundson--with *becoming* Mundson--finally break for good.

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