The Blue Dahlia (1946)

Director:

George Marshall

Writer:

Raymond Chandler (written by)

Release Date:

19 April 1946 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Tamed by a brunette - framed by a blonde - blamed by the cops!

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Pilot | Nightclub | Nightclub Owner | Drunkenness | Unfaithful Wife

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Alan Ladd	...	Johnny Morrison - Lt.Cmdr., ret.
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 - Motel Operator
Don Costello	...	Leo
Will Wright	...	'Dad' Newell
Frank Faylen	...	Man Recommending a Motel
Walter Sande	...	Heath - Gangster
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dick Elliott	...	Motor Court Owner (scenes deleted)
Milton Kibbee	...	Night Hotel Clerk (scenes deleted)
Bea Allen	...	News Clerk (uncredited)
Harry Barris	...	Bellhop (uncredited)
George Barton	...	Cab Driver (uncredited)
Nina Borget	...	Mexican Waitress (uncredited)
Mae Busch	...	Jenny - Maid (uncredited)
George M. Carleton	...	Clerk at DeAnza Hotel (uncredited)
Douglas Carter	...	Bus Driver (uncredited)
Anthony Caruso	...	Marine Corporal Playing Jukebox (uncredited)
Ethel Clayton	...	Undetermined Minor Role (uncredited)
Carmen Clifford	...	Carmen - Party Guest (uncredited)
Jack Clifford	...	Plainclothes Cop (uncredited)
Tom Dillon	...	Cop in Prowl Car (uncredited)
Jimmie Dundee	...	Driver of Gangster Car (uncredited)
Jay Eaton	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Clark Eggleston	...	Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Brooke Evans	...	Guest at Cocktail Party (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Guest at Cocktail Party (uncredited)
Jack Gargan	...	Cab Driver (uncredited)
Paul Gustine	...	Doorman (uncredited)
Eddie Hall	...	Soldier Picking Up Suitcase in Bus Station (uncredited)
Harry Hayden	...	Mr. Hughes - Assistant Hotel Manager (uncredited)
Charles Anthony Hughes	...	Det. Lt. Lloyd (uncredited)
Jerry James	...	Guest at Cocktail Party (uncredited)
Stan Johnson	...	Naval Officer (uncredited)
Roberta Jonay	...	Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Lucy Knoch	...	Guest at Cocktail Party (uncredited)
Audrey Korn	...	Guest at Cocktail Party (uncredited)
Perc Launders	...	Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Arthur Loft	...	The 'Wolf' at Bar (uncredited)
Leon Lombardo	...	Mexican Bellhop (uncredited)
Vera Marshe	...	Friendly Blonde at Party (uncredited)
Charles Mayon	...	Charlie - Party Guest (uncredited)
Matt McHugh	...	Bartender at Gus's (uncredited)
William Meader	...	Guest at Cocktail Party (uncredited)
James Millican	...	Photographer (uncredited)
Mavis Murray	...	Hatcheck Girl (uncredited)
Noel Neill	...	Nolie - Hatcheck Girl (uncredited)
William J. O'Brien	...	Man at Cavendish Apts. (uncredited)
Franklin Parker	...	Police Stenographer (uncredited)
Ed Randolph	...	Cop in George's Apartment (uncredited)
Albert Ruiz	...	Photographer (uncredited)
George Sorel	...	Paul - Captain of Waiters (uncredited)
Beverly Thompson	...	Beverly - Party Guest (uncredited)
Harry Tyler	...	Clerk in Bus Station (uncredited)
Henry Vroom	...	Master Sergeant (uncredited)
Audrey Westphal	...	Guest at Cocktail Party (uncredited)
Gloria Williams	...	Assistant Maid (uncredited)
Dick Winslow	...	Dick - Piano Player at Party (uncredited)
Lawrence Young	...	Clerk (uncredited)

Directed by
George Marshall

Writing credits
Raymond Chandler		(written by)

Produced by
John Houseman	....	producer
George Marshall	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Robert Emmett Dolan		(uncredited)
Harry Simeone		(uncredited)
Bernie Wayne		(uncredited)
Victor Young		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Lionel Lindon		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Arthur P. Schmidt		(as Arthur Schmidt)

Art Direction by
Hans Dreier
Walter H. Tyler		(as Walter Tyler)

Set Decoration by
Sam Comer
James M. Walters Sr.		(as Jimmy Walters)

Costume Design by
Edith Head

Makeup Department
Wally Westmore	....	makeup supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles C. Coleman	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gene Merritt	....	sound recordist
Joel Moss	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Barney Wolff	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Farciot Edouart	....	process photography

Stunts
Jimmie Dundee	....	stunts (uncredited)

Music Department
Victor Young	....	musical director

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1946) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paramount (1948) (France) (theatrical)
• MCA/Universal Pictures (1958) (USA) (TV)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Home Entertainment (1996) (USA) (VHS)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

UK:A | Norway:16 (1947) | Australia:M | Argentina:16 | Finland:(Banned) (1947-1953) | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #10874)

Filming Locations:

Encino, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

In Raymond Chandler's original script, the murder was committed by the shell-shocked Buzz. The War Office forced Chandler to rewrite the script, as it was not deemed acceptable to portray an American serviceman as a murderer.

Quotes:

Johnny Morrison: [after being picked up] You gotta have more sense than to take chances with strangers like this.
Joyce Harwood: It's funny but practically all the people were strangers when I met them. I'm going to Malibu. Is that any use to you?
Johnny Morrison: What's in Malibu?
Joyce Harwood: Houses, people. I have some friends there.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Watching the Detectives (2007)

Soundtrack:

That Ain't Right

Interesting, if Slightly Dated, Film Noir

"The Blue Dahlia" is a slightly dated but interesting film noir. It has a pretty good mystery story that, while a bit too reliant on coincidence, also has some creative aspects. The cast is pretty good, and the atmosphere is classic 40's film noir.

Alan Ladd plays a World War II pilot who comes home only to find an unfaithful, unpleasant, drunken wife waiting for him. She has made a mess of her life while he was away, and it is no surprise that she soon turns up murdered. The husband is suspected, and is pursued by the police, with a mysterious blonde (Veronica Lake) also taking an unexplained interest in him. Ladd and Lake are pretty good in the leads, and William Bendix is very good in a difficult role as Ladd's shell-shocked pal. The film goes pretty heavy on the "noir" atmosphere, and now seems just a little dated or static, but the atmosphere does fit well with the story.

This will primarily be of interest to those who already like films of the era, but for those who do, this is an interesting story that you'll want to see.