The Blue Dahlia

1946
Approved
1h 36m

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

9.9K

YOUR RATING

Play trailer2:25

1 Video

59 Photos

Film Noir Crime Mystery Thriller

An ex-bomber pilot is suspected of murdering his unfaithful wife.An ex-bomber pilot is suspected of murdering his unfaithful wife.An ex-bomber pilot is suspected of murdering his unfaithful wife.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

9.9K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 nomination total

Top cast69

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Alan Ladd

Johnny Morrison

Veronica Lake

Joyce Harwood

William Bendix

Buzz Wanchek

Howard Da Silva

Eddie Harwood

Doris Dowling

Helen Morrison

Tom Powers

Capt. Hendrickson

Hugh Beaumont

George Copeland

Howard Freeman

Corelli

Don Costello

Will Wright

'Dad' Newell

Frank Faylen

Man Recommending a Motel

Walter Sande

Heath

Bea Allen

News Clerk
(uncredited)

Harry Barris

Bellhop
(uncredited)

George Barton

Cab Driver
(uncredited)

Mary Bayless

Bar Patron
(uncredited)

Edward Biby

Restaurant Patron
(uncredited)

Nina Borget

Mexican Waitress
(uncredited)

Director
- George Marshall
Writer
- Raymond Chandler
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The pressure of having to finish the screenplay combined with the curveball of having to write an entirely new ending was too much for Raymond Chandler. He quickly came down with a severe case of writer's block. According to a near-legendary story, Chandler offered to finish the screenplay by working drunk; in exchange for sacrificing his health to produce the requisite pages on time, Chandler was permitted to work at home (a privilege rarely granted to screenwriters) and was provided two chauffeured cars, one to convey the completed pages to the studio and the other for his wife. Chandler turned the script in on time. Many now believe the drunkenness was simply a ruse by Chandler to wrangle extraordinary privileges from the desperate studio.

Goofs
Joyce tells Johnny that the tide is out. Clearly the tide is all the way in, completely covering the beach.

Quotes
Joyce Harwood: Well, don't you even say 'Good night'?
Johnny Morrison: It's "good-bye", and it's tough to say good-bye.
Joyce Harwood: Why is it? You've never seen me before tonight.
Johnny Morrison: Every guy's seen you before somewhere. The trick is to find you.

Connections
Featured in The Hollywood Collection: Alan Ladd: The True Quiet Man (1999)

Soundtracks
The Blue Dahlia
(uncredited)
Music by Bernie Wayne
[Played in the score]

Here's another one of those classic favorites that I am still hoping gets transferred to DVD. It's been long overdue.

This is another Alan Ladd-Veronica Lake film (their third of the decade) but William Bendix steals the show as a G.I. who suffered brain damage in World War II. He is something to see and his wise-cracking lines are some of the best ever delivered in a film noir. He had a short temper and insulted everyone he came in contact with. I just laugh out loud at some of his stuff.

Doris Dowling is effective as a nasty woman and it's always fun to see Hugh Beaumont in a role other than the dad in "Leave It To Beaver." Howard da Silva and Will Wright also are entertaining in their supporting roles. Also, for you TV trivia fans: see if you can spot "Lois Lane" (Noel Neill) in here.

Never as gorgeous as billed, Lake still had a unique look and voice but she plays it pretty straight here, character-wise. I like her better when she wisecracks as she did in some of her other films.

This is a pretty good crime story. Nothing exceptional, but at least it keeps you guessing. You're never quite sure until the very end "whodunnit."