The Blue Dahlia Overview:

The Blue Dahlia (1946) was a Crime - Drama Film directed by George Marshall and produced by John Houseman and George Marshall.

The Blue Dahlia (1946)

SYNOPSIS

When Johnny Morrison returns home at the end of the war, he expects to receive a warm welcome from his wife. Instead, he discovers that she's been unfaithful to him with the owner of the Blue Dahlia nightclub. After a heated argument, he storms out of their house. Later that night, she's murdered - and Johnny winds up the prime suspect. Joyce Harwood, the estranged wife of the club's proprietor, lends Johnny a hand and the two fall in love while tracking down the killer. This film noir classic was Chandler's first original story written directly for the screen.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

.

Academy Awards 1946 --- Ceremony Number 19 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best WritingRaymond ChandlerNominated
.

BlogHub Articles:

Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, and William Bendix in “The Blue Dahlia”

By Stephen Reginald on Aug 5, 2025 From Classic Movie Man

Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, and William Bendix in “The Blue Dahlia” The Blue Dahlia is a 1946 film noir, directed by George Marshall, about Johnny Morrison (Alan Ladd), a decorated naval aviator who returns home from the war to find his wife, Helen (Doris Dowling), has been unfaithful... Read full article


Review of “The Blue Dahlia” at #NoirCityChicago

By Stephen Reginald on Aug 19, 2018 From Classic Movie Man

Review of “The Blue Dahlia” at #NoirCityChicago I went to see The Blue Dahlia, at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave, Chicago, last night. The 1946 Paramount release, directed by George Marshall was presented in a clean 35mm print. The original screenplay from detective st... Read full article


The Blue Dahlia (1946)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Jun 15, 2017 From 4 Star Films

Soldiers returning home from war is a recurring theme in films such as The Best Years of Our Lives and Act of Violence and given the circumstances it makes sense. This was the reality. Men returning home from war as heroes. But even heroes have to re-acclimate to the world they left behind. Blue Dah... Read full article


The Blue Dahlia (1946)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Jun 15, 2017 From 4 Star Films

Soldiers returning home from war is a recurring theme in films such as The Best Years of Our Lives and Act of Violence and given the circumstances it makes sense. This was the reality. Men returning home from war as heroes. But even heroes have to re-acclimate to the world they left behind. Blue Dah... Read full article


Raymond Chandler's "The Blue Dahlia"

By Rick29 on Jan 7, 2016 From Classic Film & TV Cafe

The Blue Dahlia nightclub. "As pictures go, it is pretty lively. No classic, but no dud either." That's how Raymond Chandler described the movie made from his only original screenplay in a 1946 letter. Chandler was typically critical of his work. In fact, The Blue Dahlia is a very good film noir. ... Read full article


See all The Blue Dahlia articles

Quotes from

Johnny Morrison: [to the partygoers] Seems I've lost my manners or would anyone here know the difference?


Johnny Morrison: I'm sorry, but nothing seems funny to me tonight. It all blows up in your face sometimes.
Joyce Harwood: What does?
Johnny Morrison: Whatever you're doing, whereever you're going.


Buzz Wanchek: [sitting down at the bar with two friends] Bourbon straight with a bourbon chaser.
Johnny Morrison: Same.
George Copeland: Two separate glasses. Get it?
Bartender at Gus': Why wouldn't I get it?


read more quotes from The Blue Dahlia...

Facts about

Originally Raymond Chandler intended Buzz, the character played by William Bendix, to be the murderer of Helen Morrison. But the U.S. Navy reacted so strongly against the depiction of a service member becoming homicidal due to brain injuries suffered in combat that they threatened never again to cooperate with ANY Paramount production if that ending was left in the film, so Chandler reluctantly rewrote his script to make another character the killer.
One of over 700 Paramount Productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since.
Some sources erroneously include Harold J. Stone in an undetermined, uncredited minor role; Stone does not appear in this film in any capacity. At the time it was filmed (in Hollywood), he was in New York City appearing on the stage in a prominent role in "A Bell for Adano" (1944-1945).
read more facts about The Blue Dahlia...
Share this page:
Visit the Classic Movie Hub Blog CMH
Best Writing Oscar 1946
















See more Academy Awards>>
Also directed by George Marshall




More about George Marshall >>
Also produced by John Houseman




More about John Houseman >>
Related Lists
Create a list




See All Related Lists >>
Also released in 1946




See All 1946 films >>