RITA HAYWORTH - THE LOVE GODDESS

US, 1983, 100 minutes, Colour.
Linda Carter, Michael Lerner.
Directed by James Goldstone.

Rita Hayworth - The Love Goddess is a moderately interesting attempt to re-create something of Rita Hayworth's early career.

Linda Carter, television's Wonder Woman, does her best as Rita Hayworth, imitating her looks and acting style. However, she is no match for the original. This shows up strongly in her imitation of Gilda's 'Put the Blame on Mame'. (The film-makers considered this good as it forms the finale for this telemovie.)

The film is interesting in showing, somewhat accurately, Rita Hayworth's origins, her family background and the influence of her father, her dancing mother - the mixed Spanish and Irish ancestry. It also shows her at a young age being singled out, given a Hollywood contract, performing in many 'B' films. It is also true in its portrait of Ed Judson who took her over, got her a contract with Columbia and with whom she broke. Harry Cohn, the tyrannical leader of Columbia Studios, is portrayed well by Michael Lerner.

The film shows scenes from some of Hayworth's films e.g. her encounter with Howard Hawks for Only Angels Have Wings, her rehearsals for Cover Girl, the help from director Vincent Sherman for the making Affair in Trinidad. There is also a glimpse of her relationship with Orson Welles, her inability to be compatible with his genius, her working with him for Lady From Shanghai.

The film also briefly indicates her relationship with Aly Khan, the subsequent marriage and her exasperation with his personal and Muslim ways.

The film ends after her making Affair in Trinidad - indicating that she was going on to more success. In fact, she made quite a number of films over the following ten years including Salome, Miss Sadie Thompson, Pal Joey. But her career did not take off. She had problems with alcoholism, health both physical and mental.

Direction is by James Goldstone, director of a number of telemovies (Eric) and movie features (Winning, Scarlet Buccaneer, When Time Ran Out).

One of a wave of telemovies on famous stars - Mae West, My Wicked, Wicked Ways (Errol Flynn).