The Blue Dahlia [Blu-ray]

Director: George Marshall

Overview

At the end of WWII, a veteran returns to Los Angeles and becomes a murder suspect when his adulterous wife is found dead. Helped by a beautiful blonde, he tries to avoid the police while looking for the killer. Raymond Chandler wrote the screenplay for this moody, hard-boiled film noir.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/13/2018
UPC:	0826663189421
Original Release:	1946
Rating:	NR
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[B&W]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:39:00
Sales rank:	17,412

Special Features

Audio commentary with film historians Alan K. Rode and Steve Mitchell; The 1949 Screen Guild Theater Radio production of The Blue Dahlia; Trailer; Photo gallery

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

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	Leo
Will Wright	`Dad' Newell
Frank Faylen	The Man
Walter Sande	Heath
Vera Marshe	Blonde
Mae Busch	Jenny the Maid
Gloria Williams	Assistant Maid
Harry Hayden	Mr. Hughes, the Assistant Hotel Manager
George Barton	Cab Driver
Harry Barris	Bellhop
Paul Gustine	Doorman
Roberta Jonay	Girl Hotel Clerk
Milton Kibbee	Night Hotel Clerk,Night Hotel Clerk
Dick Winslow	Piano Player at Party
Anthony Caruso	Marine Corporal
Matt McHugh	Bartender
Arthur Loft	The Wolf
Stan Johnson	Naval Officer
Ernie Adams	Joe--Man in Coveralls,Joe, Man in Coveralls
Henry Vroom	Master Sergeant
Harry Tyler	Clerk in Bus Station
Jack Clifford	Plainclothesman,Party Guest
George Sorel	Paul, the Captain of Waiters
James Millican	Photographer
Albert Ruiz	Photographer
Charles Anthony Hughes	Lt. Lloyd
Leon Lombardo	Mexican Bellhop
Nina Borget	Mexican Waitress
Douglas Carter	Bus Driver
Ed Randolph	Cop
Bea Allen	News Clerk
Perc Launders	Hotel Clerk
Jimmie Dundee	Driver of Gangster Car
Tom Dillon	Prowl Car Cop
Dick Elliott	Motor Court Owner
Clark Eggleston	Elevator Operator
George Carleton	Clerk at DeAnza Hotel
Jack Gargan	Cab Driver
Lawrence Young	Clerk,Composer
Franklin Parker	Police Stenographer
Noel Neill	Hat Check Girl
Mavis Murray	Hat Check Girl
Brooke Evans	Party Guest
Audrey Westphal	Party Guest
Thomas P. Dillon	Prowl Car Cop
Lucy Knoch	Party Guest
Audrey Korn	Party Guest
Beverly Thompson	Party Guest
Jerry James	Party Guest
Charles Mayon	Party Guest
William Meader	Party Guest
Ethel Clayton	Undetermined Minor Role

Technical Credits

Raymond Chandler

Raymond Chandler	Screenwriter
John Houseman	Producer
Farciot Edouart	Special Effects
Joel Moss	Sound Effects
Jim Miller	Sound Effects

Editorial Reviews

Though many of Raymond Chandler's books were turned into films (Murder My Sweet, The Big Sleep, The Long Goodbye) and he himself adapted other writers' novels into screenplays (Double Indemnity, Strangers on a Train), the only work that the author ever wrote directly for the screen was Blue Dahlia. It's fitting, then, that the film is laden with the fast-paced dialogue, disillusioned attitude, hard-boiled men, and mysterious women common to Chandler's work. Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake, who appeared in seven successful films together in the 1940s, are the usual suspects this time around, and both performers play up their strong suits: Ladd acts steely, and Lake looks as seductive as ever. Mostly known for his comedies, director George Marshall did surprisingly well with the film noir material, particularly at a time when the genre was at its peak. In historical context, The Blue Dahlia is an above-average, enjoyable post-war mystery with little to distinguish it from other films of its time. The film would be John Houseman's first success as a Hollywood producer; he was previously best-known for his stage productions. Chandler would be nominated for a second Academy Award for screenplay (his first being Double Indemnity).