Rita Hayworth: The Ultimate Collection: 12 Legendary Performances

Six-disc set includes: Music In My Heart (1940)Crooner Robert Gregory (Tony Martin), facing imminent deportation, runs into singer Patricia O'Malley (Rita Hayworth, in her first musical), who's about to marry a dull-as-dishwater millionaire. Before long, they're singing and romancing together in this tuneful comedy that also features Alan Mowbray, Edith Fellows, George Tobias, and Andre Kostelanetz and His Orchestra. Songs include "It's a Blue World," "Oh, What a Lovely Dream." 70 min. BW/Rtg: NR You'll Never Get Rich (1941)A wonderful musical romp starring Fred Astaire as Robert Curtis, a choreographer who finds a beautiful chorine (Rita Hayworth) has what it takes to be his dancing partner. Hoofing takes a back seat to Uncle Sam, though, when Curtis is drafted. "Since I Kissed My Baby Goodbye," "Dream Dancing," and "So Near and Yet So Far" are among the Cole Porter songs; with Robert Benchley, Ona Massen. 88 min. BW/Rtg: NR Tonight And Every Night (1945)Being interviewed for a magazine piece on the music hall he worked at, stage manager Sam Royce (Ernest Cossart) recalls the establishment's halcyon days at the onset of World War II. Based on the story of London's Music Box Theatre, which never closed during the Blitz, this musical romance stars Rita Hayworth as the troupe's lovely American singer. Co-stars Lee Bowman, Marc Platt. Songs include "You Excite Me," "Anywhere," and the title tune. 92 min. C/Rtg: NR Down To Earth (1947)Fantasy-musical stars Rita Hayworth as Terpsichore, the Greek muse of dance, who comes to New York to stop Broadway producer Larry Parks from putting on a jazz play that mocks the gods of myth. Before long, goddess and mortal fall in love. James Gleason and Roland Culver also star in this whimsical tale that features characters from "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" and was later remade as "Xanadu." 101 min. C/Rtg: NR The Lady From Shanghai (1948)Director/scripter Orson Welles co-stars with then-wife Rita Hayworth in a film noir classic. A roguish Irish sailor (Welles) signs on to work on a Mexican cruise for a crippled businessman, his maniacal partner, and the man's beautiful, unfaithful wife (Hayworth). What lies ahead on the trip are romance, deception, murder, and a memorable showdown in a funhouse hall of mirrors. With Everett Sloane, Ted de Corsia, Glenn Anders. 87 min. BW/Rtg: NR The Loves Of Carmen (1948)Adding to her repertoire of legendary seductresses, Rita Hayworth stars as Carmen, the fiery Gypsy dancer who tempts soldier Don José (Glenn Ford) with her charms. José's fealty to Carmen leads to his expulsion from the military, but his "love" for her continues to drive him to criminal acts including banditry and murder. This scorching non-musical version of Prosper Mérimée's famous novella "Carmen" co-stars Ron Randell, Luther Adler. 97 min. C/Rtg: NR Affair In Trinidad (1952)"Gilda" co-stars Glenn Ford and Rita Hayworth reteam in this steamy romantic thriller. Hayworth plays a Caribbean nightclub performer who falls for her brother-in-law (Ford) while being compelled by police to snuggle up to the international spy (Alexander Scourby) who murdered her husband. Rita bumps and grinds her way through two numbers, "Trinidad Lady" and "I've Been Kissed Before." 98 min. BW/Rtg: NR Miss Sadie Thompson (1953)Rita Hayworth stars as a bawdy playgirl whose arrival on the shores of post-World War II Samoa sparks the notice of the American Marines stationed there, as well as the outrage of a zealous, hypocritical minister (José Ferrer). Musicalized adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's "Rain" co-stars Aldo Ray, Charles Bronson; score includes "The Heat Is On," "Hear No Evil, Seek No Evil," "Blue Pacific Blues." 90 min. C/Rtg: NR Salome (1953)Rita Hayworth takes the title role in this revisionist retelling of the Biblical tale, putting a studio-mandated sympathetic spin on the Judean princess. Salome performs the Dance of the Seven Veils for lecherous stepfather Herod (Charles Laughton) in a bid to spare the life