the lady from shanghai
High Contrast Cinema ends its Femme Fatale season with Orson Welles' fourth film as a Hollywood drector, The Lady From Shanghai (1947).
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Welles plays a sailor who becomes entangled in a web of murder and deceit after a rich couple employs him to work on their yacht.
Although the director bemoaned studio interference (a common complaint with everything that followed his debut, Citizen Kane), it remains one the highlights of his filmography, featuring a bleach-blonde Rita Hayworth as the dangerously seductive femme fatale and an iconic hall-of-mirrors sequence that has been imitated repeatedly across the decades.
Rita Hayworth
Orson Welles
Rita Hayworth
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Rita Hayworth, born Margarita Carmen Cansino on October 17, 1918, in Brooklyn, New York, began her career as a professional dancer alongside her father in The Dancing Cansinos. Her talent and beauty caught the attention of Hollywood, leading to her transformation into Rita Hayworth, a name that would become synonymous with glamour and allure.
Her breakthrough came with films like You'll Never Get Rich (1941) and Cover Girl (1944), where her dancing skills shone alongside legends like Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.
Hayworth's most memorable role was in the 1946 film noir Gilda, where her portrayal of a femme fatale solidified her status as a screen legend. Dubbed 'The Love Goddess' by the press, she became a favorite pin-up girl during World War II, captivating audiences with her charisma and elegance. Despite her success, her personal life was tumultuous, marked by five marriages, including one to filmmaker Orson Welles.
In her later years, Hayworth faced challenges, including a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's disease, which helped bring wider attention to the condition. She passed away on May 14, 1987, aged 68, and is remembered as one of the most iconic actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age.
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Orson Welles
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Orson Welles (1915-1985) was a multi-talented American filmmaker, actor, writer, and producer, revered for his groundbreaking work in radio, theatre, and film. His career began in radio, where he gained fame for his 1938 broadcast of H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds, which famously caused public panic due to its realistic presentation.
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In 1941, Welles co-wrote, directed, produced, and starred in Citizen Kane, a film widely regarded as one of the greatest in cinematic history. The innovative techniques and narrative structure used the film have had an incalculable influence of generations of filmmakers.
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Despite critical acclaim, Welles faced struggles with Hollywood studios, leading to a turbulent career filled with unfinished projects and compromised films.
Welles continued to create and act in films throughout his life, often working in Europe. His other notable works include The Magnificent Ambersons, Touch of Evil, and Chimes at Midnight. Known for his charismatic presence and deep, resonant voice, Orson Welles is considered to be one the most important figures in American cinema.