The Blue Dahlia (1946)
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- Passed
- 1h 36min
- Crime, Film-Noir
- 26 Apr 1946 (UK)
- Movie
An ex-bomber pilot is suspected of murdering his unfaithful wife.
Director:
Writer:
Stars:
Award:
- Nominated for 1 Oscar.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
Alan Ladd | ... |
Johnny Morrison
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Veronica Lake | ... |
Joyce Harwood
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William Bendix | ... |
Buzz Wanchek
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Howard Da Silva | ... |
Eddie Harwood
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Doris Dowling | ... |
Helen Morrison
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Tom Powers | ... |
Capt. Hendrickson
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Hugh Beaumont | ... |
George Copeland
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Howard Freeman | ... |
Corelli
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Don Costello | ... |
Leo
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Will Wright | ... |
'Dad' Newell
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Frank Faylen | ... |
Man Recommending a Motel
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Walter Sande | ... |
Heath
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Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
Bea Allen | ... |
News Clerk (uncredited)
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Harry Barris | ... |
Bellhop (uncredited)
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George Barton | ... |
Cab Driver (uncredited)
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Mary Bayless | ... |
Bar Patron (uncredited)
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Edward Biby | ... |
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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Nina Borget | ... |
Mexican Waitress (uncredited)
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Paul Bradley | ... |
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
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George Bruggeman | ... |
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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Mae Busch | ... |
Jenny (uncredited)
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George M. Carleton | ... |
DeAnza Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
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Douglas Carter | ... |
Bus Driver (uncredited)
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Anthony Caruso | ... |
Marine Corporal Playing Jukebox (uncredited)
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Carmen Clifford | ... |
Carmen (uncredited)
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Jack Rube Clifford | ... |
Plainclothes Cop (uncredited)
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Tom Dillon | ... |
Cop in Prowl Car (uncredited)
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Jimmie Dundee | ... |
Driver of Gangster Car (uncredited)
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Jay Eaton | ... |
Bar Patron (uncredited)
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Clark Eggleston | ... |
Elevator Operator (uncredited)
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Brooke Evans | ... |
Cocktail Party Guest (uncredited)
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Bess Flowers | ... |
Cocktail Party Guest (uncredited)
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Charles Fogel | ... |
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
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Jack Gargan | ... |
Cab Driver (uncredited)
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Joe Gilbert | ... |
Cocktail Party Guest (uncredited)
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Paul Gustine | ... |
Doorman (uncredited)
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Eddie Hall | ... |
Soldier Picking Up Suitcase in Bus Station (uncredited)
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Sam Harris | ... |
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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Harry Hayden | ... |
Mr. Hughes (uncredited)
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Charles Anthony Hughes | ... |
Detective Lt. Lloyd (uncredited)
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Jerry James | ... |
Cocktail Party Guest (uncredited)
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Stan Johnson | ... |
Naval Officer (uncredited)
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Roberta Jonay | ... |
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
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Lucille Knox | ... |
Cocktail Party Guest (uncredited)
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Audrey Korn | ... |
Cocktail Party Guest (uncredited)
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Perc Launders | ... |
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
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Arthur Loft | ... |
Wolf at Bar (uncredited)
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Leon Lombardo | ... |
Mexican Bellhop (uncredited)
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John Marlin | ... |
Doorman (uncredited)
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Vera Marshe | ... |
Friendly Blonde at Party (uncredited)
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Charles Mayon | ... |
Charlie (uncredited)
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Matt McHugh | ... |
Bartender at Gus's (uncredited)
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William Meader | ... |
Cocktail Party Guest (uncredited)
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James Millican | ... |
Photographer (uncredited)
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Mavis Murray | ... |
Hatcheck Girl (uncredited)
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Noel Neill | ... |
Nolie (uncredited)
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William J. O'Brien | ... |
Man at Cavendish Apartments (uncredited)
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Franklin Parker | ... |
Police Stenographer (uncredited)
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Ed Randolph | ... |
Cop in George's Apartment (uncredited)
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Ricky Ricardi | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Albert Ruiz | ... |
Photographer (uncredited)
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George Sorel | ... |
Paul (uncredited)
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Beverly Thompson | ... |
Beverly (uncredited)
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Harry Tyler | ... |
Bus Station Clerk (uncredited)
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Henry Vroom | ... |
Master Sergeant (uncredited)
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Audrey Westphal | ... |
Cocktail Party Guest (uncredited)
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Gloria Williams | ... |
Assistant Maid (uncredited)
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Dick Winslow | ... |
Dick (uncredited)
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Lawrence Young | ... |
Clerk (uncredited)
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Directed by
George Marshall |
Written by
Raymond Chandler | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
John Houseman | ... | producer |
George Marshall | ... | producer (uncredited) |
Music by
Victor Young | ... | (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
Lionel Lindon | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
Arthur P. Schmidt | ... | (as Arthur Schmidt) |
Editorial Department
Stan Johnson | ... | assistant cutter (uncredited) |
Casting By
Robert Mayo | ... | (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
Hans Dreier | ||
Walter H. Tyler | ... | (as Walter Tyler) |
Set Decoration by
Sam Comer | ||
James M. Walters Sr. | ... | (as Jimmy Walters) |
Makeup Department
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
Roy Burns | ... | unit manager (uncredited) |
Andrew J. Durkus | ... | assistant production manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles C. Coleman | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Tex Harris | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
James A. Rosenberger | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
Carl Coleman | ... | props (uncredited) |
Patrick Delany | ... | props (uncredited) |
Ross Dowd | ... | set dresser (uncredited) |
Sound Department
Gene Merritt | ... | sound recordist |
Joel Moss | ... | sound recordist |
Paul Franz | ... | stage engineer (uncredited) |
John Smirch | ... | mike grip (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
Barney Wolff | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
Farciot Edouart | ... | process photography |
Stunts
Jimmie Dundee | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
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
Edith Head | ... | costumer |
John A. Anderson | ... | wardrobe: men (uncredited) |
Florence Lyons | ... | wardrobe: ladies (uncredited) |
Music Department
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
LaPrele Hall | ... | script clerk (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
Pearl Alexander | ... | secretary to director (uncredited) |
Pauline Senner | ... | secretary to producer (uncredited) |
George Thomas Jr. | ... | publicist (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- 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
Other Companies
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (acknowledgement)
- Western Electric (sound recording)
Storyline
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 Keywords | |
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 | |
Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Did You Know?
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 » |