The Blue Dahlia (1946) | |
| Director(s) | George Marshall |
| Producer(s) | John Houseman, George Marshall (associate uncredited) |
| Top Genres | Crime, Drama, Film Noir, Mystery, Thriller/Suspense |
| Top Topics | |
Featured Cast:
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.
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).
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Academy Awards 1946 --- Ceremony Number 19 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Writing | Raymond Chandler | Nominated |
BlogHub Articles:
Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, and William Bendix in “The Blue Dahlia”
By Stephen Reginald on Aug 5, 2025 From Classic Movie ManAlan 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 ManReview 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) (3)
By 4 Star Film Fan on Jun 15, 2017 From 4 Star FilmsSoldiers 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) (2)
By 4 Star Film Fan on Jun 15, 2017 From 4 Star FilmsSoldiers 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 CafeThe 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
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Quotes from
Johnny Morrison: How often do they change the fleas?
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?
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.
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Facts about
"The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on April 21, 1949 with Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd reprising their film roles.
Shortly after this film released, a young woman named Elizabeth Short was murdered in Los Angeles. The local newspapers dubbed the case the "Black Dahlia" as a morbid twist on this film's title. Unlike the movie, the Short murder case is still unsolved.
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