\n![\"hayworth_wings.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/hayworth_wings.jpg\")
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\nShe was a newbie (pretty much) when she appeared as Judith, the wife of the hated flier MacPherson, in Only Angels Have Wings<\/i>, but she’s terrific in the part. The part is deceptively simple, but once you analyze it in terms of the script and how it is written, you can see that there are pitfalls everywhere, none of which Hayworth falls into. You totally believe that she would be “the one” who came closest to winning Geoff’s heart (played by Cary Grant at his cranky best) – not because she’s gorgeous and bodacious – or not only because of that – but because she treats him with an egalitarian calmness that I imagine he would find relaxing and suitable for his particular temperament. No girlie histrionics for him.<\/p>\n
And then, in the scene when she does lose it – and she’s staggering around behind the bar looking for the corkscrew – and he finally lets her have it, about how selfish she is being with her husband – finally dunking her head in the water to sober her up
\n– she finally realizes: Yes, he’s right – I AM only thinking of myself …<\/p>\n
She plays a good woman in that film, a woman who would be a good mate, a perfect wife and partner, and she is also capable of critical thinking – even when it involves her own faults – and in that scene she is able to take a step back and realize: “Wait a second. The problem here is ME.” How often do movie goddesses ever get to have a moment of realization like that?<\/p>\n
Imagine how that role could have been played, the cliche it could have been. Hayworth, new to dramatic parts at that time in her career, is more than up for the task.<\/p>\n
Apparently, she had a hard time bringing herself to tears in her final scene, so Hawks, ever the practical man, made her come in from the rain for that final confrontation, so her face would be all wet – which basically gives the impression of tears, and lets Hayworth off the hook of having to bring tears to her eyes. Producing tears is obviously something actors may worry about, and she certainly did – but if you have the Impression<\/i> of tears, then what does it matter if they come organically or not? Hawks got that, and he helped Hayworth to get that too – and it’s a very effective scene, and I couldn’t care less if she the actress was actually crying or not.<\/p>\n
Highly under-rated actress. Yes, beloved as a sex bomb and babe – but under-rated indeed as an actress with some CHOPS.<\/p>\n
Clip from Only Angels Have Wings<\/i> below – when Cary Grant gives her a dousing of water and a harsh talking-to. The scene comes at the 8 minute mark.<\/p>\n
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