Rita Hayworth: Dancing Into the Dream

The tragic life of Rita Hayworth, one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood's golden years, is examined in this documentary directed by Arthur Barron. Her life, during her ascent into glory, was the stuff that filled the pages of the fan magazines of that era. She was adored by her fans and envied by others because she had it all.

Her daughter, Princess Yasmin Khan, talks about her mother in a caring manner. It is obviously they had a bond that was only shattered by a horrible disease that took away her dignity, which was the crowning blow to a woman whose life was full of sadness and misery, in spite of the glamorous appearance. The men in her life didn't give her the happiness she deserved, but used her in whatever way they could.

She was a great dancer, although her career was steered into more dramatic roles. Ms. Hayworth was a genuine person who was popular among her fellow workers. Some of the people that were interviewed for the documentary, like Glenn Ford, Jack Lemmon, Evelyn Keys, Frank Langella, among others, speak highly of Rita as an actress and as a friend, which is probably the best accolade she could have wished for.

"Rita Hayworth Dancing Into the Dream" is recommended to all movie fans that were entertained by this lovely actress in the pictures she left behind.

In "Rita Hayworth Dancing Into the Dream" we have the chance to know more about the glamorous star of films like "Gilda", "The Lady from Shangai" and "Separated Tables", her life, the stardom in Hollywood, her five marriages and the final and painful years until her death in 1987, after suffering with Alzheimer.

Through testimonies from fellow actors like Jack Lemmon, Glenn Ford and Frank Langella, the choreographer Hermes Pan, one of her daughters and many others the documentary offers more of things we probably didn't want to know than things we would like to discover. It's main focus was in telling her problems, her vulnerability, the failed marriages and the disease instead of showing the good moments of her career, the success and fame. It painted Hayworth as someone worth of pity, and that despite of all the things she conquered she wasn't very happy. Of course the interviewed people here know more about her than anyone else (in a way) but I don't feel this on her, I believe she was more than just that, she was strong, caused impact on people on screen and off screen, a magnetism that is quite rare these days. She had a little bit of Gilda in herself so, this presentation of being too fragile didn't convinced me much and I'm sure most of her fans won't agree with that.

Aside from this issue, there's some good stories too (her great chemistry with Fred Astaire), good archive footage that goes from her early films to scenes of her funeral. And the immortal clips from her outstanding works.

It's good but it could've been better if it wasn't excessive in presenting her low moments. She was bigger than that and we know it. 6/10