The Blue Dahlia

Cinephile deep dive

The take

George Marshall directs. Lionel Lindon behind the camera. Victor Young scores. Arthur P. Schmidt cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 180 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
• 2Directed by George Marshall, shot by Lionel Lindon. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 3Original score by Victor Young. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 4Editor Arthur P. Schmidt shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 5Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake and William Bendix carry the top of the cast.
• 6Marketing tagline: "Double dame trouble! Double-barrelled action!".
• 7IMDB entry: tt0038369 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
• 8Classified under 8 themes, including "war veteran", "femme fatale", "film noir", "framed for murder".
• 9Released under 23 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography

Lionel Lindon

Original score

Victor Young

Editing

Arthur P. Schmidt

Costume design

Edith Head

Makeup / hair

Gertrude Reade

Runtime

99 min · 1h 39m

Aspect ratio (typical)

1.37:1 (Academy)

Status

Released

Box office

$2,750,000

Original language

EN

Certification (US)

NR

IMDB

The Blue Dahlia (1946) ↗

Also by

George Marshall

• 
  Life Begins at Forty

  1935 · ★ 10.0
• 
  In Old Kentucky

  1935 · ★ 10.0
• 
  The Crime of Dr. Forbes

  1936 · ★ 10.0
• 
  A Man About Town

  1927 · ★ 10.0
• 
  The Forest Rangers

  1942 · ★ 9.0
• 
  $10 Raise

  1935 · ★ 9.0

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  The Blue Dahlia Original Trailer (George Marshall, 1946)

  Trailer · Official

Community reviews

What people are saying

• Muhayerboy2017-08-04
  ★ 10/10

  The Blue Dahlia is the epitome of Film Noir. It has an excellent cast, excellent story and cinematography. I watch it anytime it appears on TV, cable, satellite or local.

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• 

  Paramount Pictures

  US

Key crew

• Art DirectionHans Dreier
• Set DecorationSam Comer
• Art DirectionWalter H. Tyler
• EditorArthur P. Schmidt
• Costume DesignEdith Head
• HairstylistGertrude Reade
• GripDarrell Turnmire
• Additional MusicRobert Emmett Dolan
• CostumerEdith Head
• Script SupervisorLaPrele Hall
• Assistant Makeup ArtistGlen Alden
• Assistant Makeup ArtistWeb Overlander
• Additional MusicHarry Simeone
• Sound RecordistGene Merritt
• Sound RecordistJoel Moss
• Set DecorationJames M. Walters Sr.
• ProducerJohn Houseman
• Music DirectorVictor Young
• Makeup SupervisorWally Westmore
• Visual EffectsFarciot Edouart
• Assistant DirectorCharles C. Coleman
• Set DresserRoss Dowd
• PropsPatrick Delany
• Makeup ArtistFaye Chaney

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• war veteran
• femme fatale
• film noir
• framed for murder
• brain injury
• innocent man
• adulterous wife
• wife cheating on husband

Release history · US

When it landed

• Theatrical (limited)2009-01-01· New York Film Festival
• Theatrical (limited)1946-04-16NR· Baltimore, Maryland
• Theatrical (limited)1946-04-18
• Theatrical (limited)1946-07-04· Los Angeles, California
• Theatrical1946-04-19

Also known as

International titles

• La dalia azulAR
• Die blaue DahlieAT
• De blauwe dahliaBE
• Le dahlia bleuBE
• Le dahlia bleuFR
• Синята далияBG
• A Dália AzulBR
• The Blue DahliaCA
• RegnvejrsmordetDK
• La dalia azulWS
• Mysteerio sininen dahliaFI
• Sinisen Dahlian mysteeriFI
• I galazia daliaGR
• A kék dáliaHU
• La dalia azzurraIT