Overview
A war veteran returns home to find a deadly web of deceit and betrayal waiting for him.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- sardonic
- brooding
- classic movie night
- noir double feature
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a brisk, atmospheric, stylishly directed film noir elevated by hard-boiled dialogue and strong performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Johnny investigates Helen's murder while evading suspicion and pursuing the real killer.
Johnny returns from the Pacific to infidelity, guilt, blackmail, and murder rather than domestic stability.
Johnny becomes the prime suspect after Helen is found dead and must investigate from hiding.
The Blue Dahlia nightclub, owned by Eddie Harwood, anchors the film's criminal and romantic intrigue.
Films like The Blue Dahlia, and why
The Big Sleep
shared film noir atmosphere, femme fatale, murder investigation, and morally compromised characters
Out of the Past
shared postwar disillusionment, hard-boiled mystery, betrayal, and terse noir dialogue
The Killers
shared framed innocent protagonist, femme fatale intrigue, and shadowy crime plotting
Double Indemnity
shared noir fatalism, adulterous betrayal, and a murder case driven by suspicion
Movie Details
- Director
- George Marshall
- Release Date
- 1946-04-16
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (177)
Cast
- Alan Ladd
- Veronica Lake
- William Bendix
- Howard Da Silva
- Doris Dowling
- Tom Powers
- Hugh Beaumont
- Howard Freeman
- Don Costello
- Will Wright
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Blue Dahlia about?
- A returning naval veteran becomes a murder suspect after discovering his wife's betrayal and must navigate a shadowy nightclub underworld to clear his name.
- What is The Blue Dahlia like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Blue Dahlia as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Blue Dahlia violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Blue Dahlia as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Blue Dahlia?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a brisk, atmospheric, stylishly directed film noir elevated by hard-boiled dialogue and strong performances.
- Which films are like The Blue Dahlia?
- Films with a similar feel include The Big Sleep, Out of the Past, The Killers, and Double Indemnity.
- How long is The Blue Dahlia?
- The Blue Dahlia runs 99 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Blue Dahlia?
- In United States, The Blue Dahlia is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
