Johnny, portrayed by Glenn Ford, is a clever gambler who gets pulled into a complicated situation after being helped out by a mysterious man with a hidden weapon at the Buenos Aires docks. The stranger encourages him to gamble at a casino where Johnny wins a significant amount from the dealer—who turns out to be his benefactor, Mundson, played by George Macready. To avoid trouble, Johnny proposes using his abilities …

Gilda feels a lot like Casablanca, except with a happy ending—which wouldn't have worked well even if it hadn't already been done in To Have and Have Not (a film that at least had Bogie). Similar to Casablanca, Gilda centers on a love triangle unfolding within a gambling establishment set in an unusual locale. While Casablanca is situated in North Africa during wartime, this one takes place in South America shortl…