The Blue Dahlia (1946)

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Passed
1h 36min
Crime, Film-Noir
26 Apr 1946 (UK)
Movie

7.1 (9,668)

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

Director:

George Marshall

Writer:

Raymond Chandler

Stars:

Award:

Nominated for 1 Oscar.
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Reviews:

Photos and Videos

Still of Alan Ladd (I) and Veronica Lake (I) in The Blue Dahlia (1946)

Still of Veronica Lake (I) in The Blue Dahlia (1946)

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59 photos | 1 video

Cast verified as complete

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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	...	Leo
	Will Wright	...	'Dad' Newell
	Frank Faylen	...	Man Recommending a Motel
	Walter Sande	...	Heath
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
	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)
	Paul Bradley	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
	George Bruggeman	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
	Mae Busch	...	Jenny (uncredited)
	George M. Carleton	...	DeAnza Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
	Douglas Carter	...	Bus Driver (uncredited)
	Anthony Caruso	...	Marine Corporal Playing Jukebox (uncredited)
	Carmen Clifford	...	Carmen (uncredited)
	Jack Rube 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	...	Cocktail Party Guest (uncredited)
	Bess Flowers	...	Cocktail Party Guest (uncredited)
	Charles Fogel	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
	Jack Gargan	...	Cab Driver (uncredited)
	Joe Gilbert	...	Cocktail Party Guest (uncredited)
	Paul Gustine	...	Doorman (uncredited)
	Eddie Hall	...	Soldier Picking Up Suitcase in Bus Station (uncredited)
	Sam Harris	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
	Harry Hayden	...	Mr. Hughes (uncredited)
	Charles Anthony Hughes	...	Detective Lt. Lloyd (uncredited)
	Jerry James	...	Cocktail Party Guest (uncredited)
	Stan Johnson	...	Naval Officer (uncredited)
	Roberta Jonay	...	Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
	Lucille Knox	...	Cocktail Party Guest (uncredited)
	Audrey Korn	...	Cocktail Party Guest (uncredited)
	Perc Launders	...	Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
	Arthur Loft	...	Wolf at Bar (uncredited)
	Leon Lombardo	...	Mexican Bellhop (uncredited)
	John Marlin	...	Doorman (uncredited)
	Vera Marshe	...	Friendly Blonde at Party (uncredited)
	Charles Mayon	...	Charlie (uncredited)
	Matt McHugh	...	Bartender at Gus's (uncredited)
	William Meader	...	Cocktail Party Guest (uncredited)
	James Millican	...	Photographer (uncredited)
	Mavis Murray	...	Hatcheck Girl (uncredited)
	Noel Neill	...	Nolie (uncredited)
	William J. O'Brien	...	Man at Cavendish Apartments (uncredited)
	Franklin Parker	...	Police Stenographer (uncredited)
	Ed Randolph	...	Cop in George's Apartment (uncredited)
	Ricky Ricardi	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Albert Ruiz	...	Photographer (uncredited)
	George Sorel	...	Paul (uncredited)
	Beverly Thompson	...	Beverly (uncredited)
	Harry Tyler	...	Bus Station Clerk (uncredited)
	Henry Vroom	...	Master Sergeant (uncredited)
	Audrey Westphal	...	Cocktail Party Guest (uncredited)
	Gloria Williams	...	Assistant Maid (uncredited)
	Dick Winslow	...	Dick (uncredited)
	Lawrence Young	...	Clerk (uncredited)

Directed by

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George Marshall

Written by

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Raymond Chandler

...

(written by)

Produced by

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John Houseman	...	producer
George Marshall	...	producer (uncredited)

Music by

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Victor Young

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(uncredited)

Cinematography by

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Lionel Lindon

...

director of photography

Editing by

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Arthur P. Schmidt

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(as Arthur Schmidt)

Editorial Department

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Stan Johnson

...

assistant cutter (uncredited)

Casting By

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Robert Mayo

...

(uncredited)

Art Direction by

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Hans Dreier
Walter H. Tyler	...	(as Walter Tyler)

Set Decoration by

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Sam Comer
James M. Walters Sr.	...	(as Jimmy Walters)

Makeup Department

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Wally Westmore	...	makeup supervisor
Glen Alden	...	assistant: makeup supervisor (uncredited)
Faye Chaney	...	body makeup artist (uncredited)
Louise Mundy	...	makeup secretary (uncredited)
Web Overlander	...	makeup assistant (uncredited)
Gertrude Reade	...	hair stylist (uncredited)
Leonora Sabine	...	hair supervisor (uncredited)

Production Management

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Roy Burns	...	unit manager (uncredited)
Andrew J. Durkus	...	assistant production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Charles C. Coleman	...	assistant director (uncredited)
Tex Harris	...	second assistant director (uncredited)
James A. Rosenberger	...	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department

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Carl Coleman	...	props (uncredited)
Patrick Delany	...	props (uncredited)
Ross Dowd	...	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department

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Gene Merritt	...	sound recordist
Joel Moss	...	sound recordist
Paul Franz	...	stage engineer (uncredited)
John Smirch	...	mike grip (uncredited)

Special Effects by

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Barney Wolff

...

special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by

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Farciot Edouart

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process photography

Stunts

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Jimmie Dundee

...

stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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Neal Beckner	...	second camera (uncredited)
James Hawley	...	assistant camera (uncredited)
Jack Koffman	...	still man (uncredited)
Bob Rogers	...	electrician (uncredited)
Darrell Turnmire	...	company grip (uncredited)
Stanley Williams	...	gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Edith Head	...	costumer
John A. Anderson	...	wardrobe: men (uncredited)
Florence Lyons	...	wardrobe: ladies (uncredited)

Music Department

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Victor Young	...	musical director
Robert Emmett Dolan	...	composer: stock music (uncredited)
George Parrish	...	orchestrator (uncredited)
Harry Simeone	...	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

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LaPrele Hall

...

script clerk (uncredited)

Additional Crew

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Pearl Alexander	...	secretary to director (uncredited)
Pauline Senner	...	secretary to producer (uncredited)
George Thomas Jr.	...	publicist (uncredited)

Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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Paramount Pictures

Distributors

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Paramount Pictures (1946) (United States) (theatrical)
Paramount Film Service (1946) (Canada) (theatrical)
Paramount British Pictures (1946) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
Film AB Paramount (1946) (Sweden) (theatrical)
Paramount Film Service (1947) (Australia) (theatrical)
Paramount Pictures (1947) (Argentina) (theatrical)
Paramount Pictures (1947) (Norway) (theatrical)
Les Films Paramount (1948) (France) (theatrical)
MCA/Universal Pictures (1958) (United States) (tv)
MCA/Universal Home Video (1996) (United States) (VHS)
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (1996) (United States) (VHS)
Koch Media (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2012) (United States) (DVD) (Dark Crimes: Film Noir Thrillers: Volume 1)
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2014) (United States) (DVD) (Film Noir 10-Movie Spotlight Collection)
NBC Universal Television Distribution (2018) (United States) (tv) (syndication)
Shout! Factory (2018) (United States) (Blu-ray)
Shout Select (2018) (United States) (Blu-ray)
The Criterion Channel (2021) (United States) (tv) (digital)
Umbrella Entertainment (2022) (Australia) (DVD)

Special Effects

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Other Companies

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International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (acknowledgement)
Western Electric (sound recording)

Storyline

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Plot Summary	When Johnny comes home from the navy he finds his wife Helen kissing her substitute boyfriend Eddie, the owner of the Blue Dahlia nightclub. Helen admits her drunkenness caused their son's death. He pulls a gun on her but decides she's not worth it. Later, Helen is found dead and Johnny is the prime suspect. Written by Ed Stephan Plot Summary Plot Synopsis
Plot Keywords	murder-of-wife abduction bourbon interrogation arrest See All (100) »
Taglines	LADD'S HOT TEMPTED BY TWO WOMEN...TO KISS ONE!... AND KILL THE OTHER ONE!! (print ad - Lubbock Morning Avalanche - Tower Theatre - Lubbock, Texas - August 31, 1946 - all caps) See more »
Genres	Crime Film-Noir Mystery Thriller
Parents Guide	View content advisory »
Certification	Argentina:16 Australia:A Australia:PG Finland:K-16 Finland:(Banned) (1947-1953) France:Tous publics Ireland:12 (DVD rating) Italy:T Norway:16 Portugal:M/12 Spain:13 United Kingdom:A United Kingdom:PG (video rating) United States:Passed (National Board of Review) United States:Approved United States:TV-PG (TV Rating) West Germany:16 (nf)

Additional Details

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Also Known As	Le Dahlia bleu (France) Die blaue Dahlie (Germany) La dalia azul (Spain) La dalia azul (Mexico) Plava dalija (Croatia) See more »
Runtime	96 min
Country	United States
Language	English
Color	Black and White
Aspect Ratio	1.37 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix	Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Filming Locations	Fairmont Miramar Hotel Santa Monica - 101 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, California, USA See more »

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. See more »
Goofs	Joyce tells Johnny that the tide is out. Clearly the tide is all the way in, completely covering the beach. See more »
Movie Connections	Featured in The Hollywood Collection: Alan Ladd: The True Quiet Man (1999). See more »
Soundtracks	The Blue Dahlia See more »
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. See more »

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