THE BLUE DAHLIA.

US, 1946, 96 minutes, Black and white.
Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, William Bendix, Howard da Silva, Doris Dowling, Tom Powers, Hugh Beaumont.
Directed by George Marshall.

The Blue Dahlia is one of many film noir made in the mid-1940s. The film focused on a taciturn central character, a vampish woman, a murder mystery – all done with special black and white photography to create mood. 1946 was also the year of a classic film noir, Gilda, with Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford.

This film was written by Raymond Chandler and has a number of characteristic twists. Alan Ladd portrays a veteran returning from the war to find his wife (Doris Dowling) in a relationship with the owner of a nightclub played by Howard da Silva. Ladd confronts his wife, discovers that her drunkenness was the cause of their son’s death, decides to kill her but thinks that it is not worth it. Somebody else kills her with the gun he leaves behind. He is aided in his search for the truth by Veronica Lake, playing the wife of the nightclub owner. William Bendix, once again, is a buddy character.

The film was directed by George Marshall, better known for westerns and, during the 50s, for a number of comedies, especially with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. This was a Paramount Pictures contribution to film noir.

1. How good a murder mystery was this? The puzzle for the audience, the types Of characters, the clues? The atmosphere? How well did it use the conventions of the murder mystery?

2. How was this a film of 1946? The post-war atmosphere, the stars, the world picture?

3. How obvious were the film styles those of 1946? Black and white photography, Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, William Bendix? The presentation of the police? Los Angeles, hotels, nightclubs, crooks?

4. How differently would the film be made now?

5. Comment on the build up of the Los Angeles atmosphere, the buses, the bars, the attitudes of people, the war, friendship, comradeship. How did this add to the atmosphere of the film?

6. The initial impact of Buzz, his wounds? Buzz as a character? Attractive, Interesting?

7. Johnny as a hero? Alan Ladd's style? Tough and sympathetic? His relationship with Helen? The impact of the bar and their meeting? His response to the charge of murder? The hero going it alone? Helped by Joyce? Acting toughly? Confronting villains and police? Being vindicated? The happy ending and atmosphere of the film?

8. The portrait of Eddie as a big time crook? How interesting and convincing? The pressures on Eddy as a murder suspect, his relationship with Joyce? Were audiences sorry at his death?

9. The line-up of murder suspects? How successful was the film in generating suspicion?

10. How attractive a heroine was Joyce? Conventional, resourceful, romantic, sexuality overtones?

11. Comment on the portrayal of the police and their tough style? How well did the film portray its web, drawing it in on Johnny, on the real murderer?

13. Did you suspect the real murderer? Was the film satisfactory in its presentation of the murderer and build up of clues?

14. How important and well portrayed were particular incidents; the meeting of Buzz and Helen in the bar, the meetings of Joyce and Johnny, the caretaker and his blackmail, Johnny's incidents in the sleazy hotel?

15. Comment on the standards of violence, sexuality etc during the mid-40s.

16. How satisfactory for the audience was the resolution and the happy ending?