The Blue Dahlia (Paramount 1946, Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake)

In The Blue Dahlia Alan Ladd plays an ex-serviceman returning to Los Angeles after WW2 to discover that his wife has been unfaithful. After she is found murdered he turns detective to clear his name and find the real killer.

This tense film noir began life as a Philip Marlowe thriller by Raymond Chandler but ended up as this Paramount production. The less-than-likely ending was not favoured by Chandler who had other ideas for the identity of the murderer. Nevertheless the movie vividly recreates Chandler’s hard-boiled, fallible and flawed universe and the moody monochrome cinematography aptly bathes the proceedings in film noir light.

production details
USA / Paramount / 96 minutes / 1946

Director: George Marshall
Writers: Raymond Chandler, LaPrele Hall,

cast
Veronica Lake as Joyce Harwood
Alan Ladd as Johnny Morrison – Lt.Cmdr., ret.
William Bendix as Buzz Wanchek
Howard Da Silva as Eddie Harwood
Doris Dowling as Helen Morrison
Tom Powers as Capt. Hendrickson
Hugh Beaumont as George Copeland
Howard Freeman as Corelli
Don Costello as Leo
Will Wright as ‘Dad’ Newell
Walter Sande as Heath
Bae Allen as News Clerk (uncredited)
Harry Barris as Belhop (uncredited)
George Barton as Cab Driver (uncredited)
Nina Borget as Mexican Waitress (uncredited)
Mae Busch as Jenny – Maid (uncredited)
George M. Carleton as DeAnza Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Douglas Carter as Bus Driver (uncredited)
Anthony Caruso as Marine Corporal playing jukebox (uncredited)
Carmen Clifford as Carmen- Party Guest (uncredited)
Jack Rube Clifford as Plainclothes Cop (uncredited)
Tom Dillon as Cop in Prowl Car (uncredited)
Jimmie Dundee as Driver of Gangster Car (uncredited)
Jay Eaton as Bar Patron (uncredited)
Clark Eggleston as Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Brooke Evans as Cocktail Party Guest (uncredited)
Bess Flowers as Coctail Party Guest (uncredited)
Paul Gustine as Doorman (uncredited)
Eddie Hall as Soldier picking up suitcase in bus station (uncredited)
Harry Hayden as Mr. Hughes – Assistant Hotel Manager (uncredited)
Charles Anthony Hughes as Detective Lt. Lloyd (uncredited)
Jerry James as Cocktail party guest (uncredited)
Stan Johnson as Naval officer (uncredited)
Roberta Jonay as Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Lucy Knoch as Cocktail party guest (uncredited)
Audrey Korn as Cocktail party guest (uncredited)
Perc Launders as Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Arthur Loft as ‘Wolf’ at bar (uncredited)
Leon Lombardo as Mexican Bellhop (uncredited)
Vera Marshe as Friendly blonde at party (uncredited)
Charles Mayon as Charlie – party guest (uncredited)
William Meader as Cocktail party guest (uncredited)
James Millican as Photographer (uncredited)
Mavis Murray as Hatcheck girl (uncredited)
Noel Neill as Nolie – Hatcheck girl (uncredited)
William J. O’Brien as Man at Cavendish Apartments (uncredited)
Franklin Parker as Police Stenographer (uncredited)
Ed Randolph as Cop in George’s Apartment (uncredited)
Ricky Ricardi as Minor Role (uncredited)
Albert Ruiz as Photographer (uncredited)
George Sorel as Paul – Captain of Walters (uncredited)
Beverly Thompson as Beverly – party guest (uncredited)
Henry Vroom as Master Sergeant (uncredited)
Audrey Westphal as Cocktail party guest (uncredited)
Gloria Williams as Assistant maid (uncredited)
Dick Winslow as Dick – Piano player at party (uncredited)
Lawrence Young as Clerk (uncredited)
Jack Gargan as Cab Driver (uncredited)
Harry Tyler as Bus station clerk (uncredited)
Matt McHugh as Bartender at Gus’s (uncredited)
Frank Faylen as Man Recommending Motel