The Blue Dahlia
Double dame trouble! Double-barrelled action!
Country
Production
Budget
$0
Box office
$2 700 000
Director
Actors
Scenario
Producer
Camera operator
Lionel Lindon
Composer
Artist
Audition
Robert Mayo
Editing
Arthur P. Schmidt
Whole Team (47)
Whole Team (47)
Short description
Soon after a veteran returns from war, his cheating wife is found dead. He evades police in an attempt to find the real murderer.
What's left behind the scenes
- Veronica Lake (1922-1973) was cast as the female lead and Ladd's partner, in part because of her height. Ladd stood just over 1.60 meters, while Lake was under 1.50 meters. Ladd strongly disliked that Doris Dowling (1923-2004), who played his wife, was nearly the same height as him (he even demanded that the role be given to another actress); therefore, in all scenes with him, Dowling is either sitting or lying down.
- Initially, Chandler intended for Buzz to be the killer, but since the film was released shortly after the end of World War II, it was suggested to him that a veteran returning from the front should not be portrayed as the murderer. Consequently, Chandler rewrote the finale and made another character the killer.
- Veronica Lake (1922-1973) was cast as the female lead alongside Ladd, in part due to her height. Ladd was just over 1 meter 60 centimeters tall, while Lake was under 1 meter 50 centimeters. Ladd disliked the fact that Doris Dowling (1923-2004), who played his wife, was almost the same height as him (he even demanded that the role be given to another actress), so in all scenes with him, Dowling either sits or lies down.
- After the fight scene with Alan Ladd's (1913-1964) character and two villains, one of the latter is shown with a broken leg. This was not in the script, but it happened that the actor actually broke his leg, and director George Marshall (1891-1975) made changes to the script (regarding the broken leg) without even consulting screenwriter Raymond Chandler (1888-1959).
- Chandler initially intended to make Baz the murderer, but the film was released shortly after the end of World War II, and he was advised that portraying a returning veteran as the killer would be inappropriate. Chandler therefore rewrote the ending and made another character the murderer.
- A former alcoholic, Chandler stopped drinking for health reasons shortly before beginning work on the script. However, the work wasn't progressing, and Chandler decided that the only way to regain inspiration and finish the script was to get drunk. Chandler initially agreed to write the script without a fee, “as a favor” to producer John Houseman, but then requested a case of whiskey as payment. Ultimately, over several weeks, Chandler drank heavily, and upon completion of his binge, presented the finished script.
- A former alcoholic, Chandler had quit drinking for health reasons shortly before starting work on the screenplay. However, he hit a creative block and decided that the only way to regain his inspiration and finish the script would be to get drunk. Chandler originally agreed to write the screenplay without a fee, as a 'kind favor' to producer John Houseman, but later requested a case of whiskey as payment. Consequently, Chandler drank heavily for several weeks, and upon the end of his binge, delivered the completed screenplay.
- After the fight scene between Alan Ladd's (1913-1964) character and two villains, one of the latter is shown with a broken leg. This was not in the script, but as it happened, the actor actually broke his leg, and director George Marshall (1891-1975) incorporated the injury into the scene without even consulting the screenwriter, Raymond Chandler (1888-1959).
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