Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, and William Bendix in “The Blue Dahlia”

The Blue Dahlia is a 1946 film noir, directed by George Marshall, about Johnny Morrison (Alan Ladd), a decorated naval aviator who returns home from the war to find his wife, Helen (Doris Dowling), has been unfaithful. After a heated confrontation, Johnny leaves, only to learn later that Helen has been murdered. The police, led by Captain Hendrickson (Tom Powers), quickly make Johnny their prime suspect. As he attempts to clear his name, Johnny becomes entangled in a web of deceit involving Helen's new lover, the charming nightclub owner Eddie Harwood (Howard da Silva), and Harwood's estranged wife, Joyce (Veronica Lake).

Johnny, with the help of his friends and fellow veterans Buzz (William Bendix) and George (Hugh Beaumont), tries to piece together the events of the night of the murder. He discovers that his wife, Helen, was a troublesome alcoholic and that Eddie Harwood's business partner, “The Man with a Gun”  Leo, had a long-standing feud with her. The film’s plot is driven by Johnny's race against time to uncover the truth and prove his innocence. He forms an unlikely alliance with Joyce, who also suspects her husband is involved, and together they navigate the seedy underbelly of the Los Angeles nightclub scene.

Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake

George Marshall (1891-1975) was an American film and television director, screenwriter, producer, and actor. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Marshall dropped out of the University of Chicago and worked various jobs, including as a mechanic, logger, and newspaper reporter, before entering the film industry. He began as an extra in 1916 and quickly moved into directing, with his early work consisting mostly of westerns and comedies. He directed films for various studios, including Fox, Universal, and Paramount, and worked with notable actors such as Laurel and Hardy, W.C. Fields, and Bob Hope. Later in his career, he also directed television series. He received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.

Marshall directed films across many genres throughout his career, which spanned over 50 years. He is known for his work on movies such as Destry Rides Again (1939) and The Blue Dahlia (1946). He also co-directed How the West Was Won (1962), for which he directed the railroad segment. Marshall died in Los Angeles, California, in 1975 from pneumonia.

Alan Ladd (1913 – 1964) was an American actor and film producer. Before Ladd made in big in movies, he had a successful career on the radio. After numerous bit parts at just about every Hollywood studio, Paramount signed him to a long-term contract and crafted roles that propelled him to superstardom. Ladd established himself in films noir like This Gun for Hire (1942), The Glass Key (1942), and The Blue Dahlia (1946). Other important films include Two Years Before the Mast (1946) and The Great Gatsby (1949). Ladd also established himself in the western genre, starring in Whispering Smith (1948) and one of the most famous westerns of all time, George Stevens’s Shane (1953). George Stevens offered the role of Jett Rink in Giant (1956), but Ladd turned it down because it wasn’t the lead. Ladd’s last film was in a supporting role in The Carpetbaggers (1964).

Veronica Lake (1922 - 1973) was an American film, stage, and television actress. She was a popular star of film noirs, often paired with Alan Ladd in the 1940s. She was also famous for her peek-a-boo hairstyle. Her home studio, Paramount, dubbed her the peek-a-boo girl. Women and girls all over the world copied her hair-over-one-eye hairstyle. Lake became an overnight sensation with her role in I Wanted Wings (1940). During the height of her career, Lake was making $4,500 a week. Some of her popular films include Sullivan’s Travels (1941), This Gun for Hire (1942), The Glass Key (1942), So Proudly We Hail! (1943), and The Blue Dahlia (1946). Lake’s career declined due to her struggle with alcoholism. She died from cirrhosis of the liver in 1973. She was 50 years old.

William Bendix (1906 – 1964) was an American film, radio, and television actor. Bendix usually played rough guys, gangsters, and blue-collar characters. In 1942, he was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance in the World War II drama Wake Island. As a youngster, Bendix was a batboy at Yankee Stadium. He was fired for buying Babe Ruth a hot dog and soda before the game. Bendix starred in several classic films noir, including The Glass Key (1942) and Blue Dahlia (1946). Perhaps his greatest role was as Chester A. Riley, a role he played on radio and television to great success.

The Blue Dahlia trivia

• The film was rushed into production because Alan Ladd was called to military service.  When the script was completed, men over thirty were released from service.
• Cars with the “B” sticker on their windshield could only purchase eight gallons of gas per week. Gas was rationed during World War II.
• This was Raymond Chandler’s first original screenplay without a collaborator. Chandler drank heavily to help him meet the deadline and worked from home, which was unheard of during the studio era.
• Fourth film pairing of Ladd and Lake.
• Raymond Chandler objected to Veronica Lake being in the film. He didn’t think she was a good actress. He also thought director George Marshall was a hack. 

Click HERE to watch the movie on the Internet Archive

Click HERE to join the online discussion on August 11, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time. Once you RSVP, you will receive an invitation to join the discussion on Zoom.

Discussion questions

1. The character of Johnny Morrison is a returning veteran who finds his life in disarray. How does the film use his character to explore the themes of post-war disillusionment and the challenges faced by soldiers reintegrating into civilian society?
2. The Blue Dahlia is a classic example of film noir. Discuss how the film utilizes common noir tropes, such as shadowy cinematography, a cynical protagonist, and a femme fatale, to tell its story. How do these elements contribute to the film's overall mood and tone?
3. Raymond Chandler, a master of hardboiled fiction, wrote the screenplay for The Blue Dahlia. How is his signature style evident in the film's dialogue, plot, and character development? Do you think the film effectively captures the essence of his literary work?
4. The film presents several complex female characters, particularly Helen and Joyce. How do their roles challenge or conform to the stereotypical portrayals of women in 1940s cinema? What do their actions reveal about the social and moral landscape of the time?
5. Buzz, one of Johnny's friends, suffers from a psychological condition related to his combat experience. How does the film portray his struggles, and what does his character add to the film's exploration of the lasting impact of war?

Ladd, Lake, and Donlevy star in “The Glass Key”

The Glass Key (1942) is an American film noir directed by Stuart Heisler and starring Brian Donlevy, Veronica Lake, and Alan Ladd. The supporting cast includes William Bendix, Bonita Granville, Richard Denning, and Joseph Calleia.

The Glass Key centers on Ed Beaumont (Alan Ladd), the trusted right-hand man of political boss Paul Madvig (Brian Donlevy). When a local gangster, Shad O’Rory, is found murdered, suspicion immediately falls on Madvig, especially since he had recently been publicly feuding with Shad over the affections of Janet Henry (Veronica Lake), the daughter of a powerful senator whom Madvig intends to marry. Ed, despite his personal feelings for Janet, is fiercely loyal to Madvig and sets out to clear his name. He dives deep into the seedy underworld, navigating corrupt politicians, rival gangsters, and the cynical social circles of the elite, all while facing threats and beatings designed to deter him.

As Ed investigates, he uncovers a tangled web of deceit, betrayal, and hidden motives. 

 

Stuart Heiser (1896 – 1979) was an American film and television director. Heisler started out as a film editor from 1921 to 1936. He then worked as a director for the remainder of his career. He directed films starring Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Gary Cooper, and Loretta Young. He directed Susan Hayward in Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman, considered her breakout performance. She earned her first Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her performance. Other films directed by Heiser include Along Came Jones (1945), Blue Skies (1946), Tulsa (1949), Dallas (1950), The Star (1952), and I Died a Thousand Times (1955).

Brian Donlevy (1901–1972) was an American actor noted for playing tough guys in movies. He mostly worked as a supporting actor, but sometimes played the lead, as in the Preston Sturges classic The Great McGinty (1940). Donlevy worked in the theater but soon found regular work in silent films. He transitioned to sound pictures and starred in “A” and “B” pictures at most of the major studios. He supported the biggest stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, including Robert Taylor, Barbara Stanwyck, Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich, and Bing Crosby.

Veronica Lake (1922 - 1973) was an American film, stage, and television actress. She was a popular star of film noirs, often paired with Alan Ladd in the 1940s. She was also famous for her peek-a-boo hairstyle. Her home studio, Paramount, dubbed her the peek-a-boo girl. Women and girls all over the world copied her hair-over-one-eye hairstyle. Lake became an overnight sensation with her role in I Wanted Wings (1940). During the height of her career, Lake was making $4,500 a week. Some of her popular films include Sullivan’s Travels (1941), This Gun for Hire (1942), The Glass Key (1942), So Proudly We Hail! (1943), and The Blue Dahlia (1946). Lake’s career declined due to her struggle with alcoholism. She died from cirrhosis of the liver in 1973. She was 50 years old.

Alan Ladd (1913 – 1964) was an American actor and film producer. Before Ladd made in big in movies, he had a successful career on the radio. After numerous bit parts at just about every Hollywood studio, Paramount signed him to a long-term contract and crafted roles that propelled him to superstardom. Ladd established himself in films noir like This Gun for Hire (1942), The Glass Key (1942), and The Blue Dahlia (1946). Other important films include Two Years Before the Mast (1946) and The Great Gatsby (1949). Ladd also established himself in the western genre, starring in Whispering Smith (1948) and one of the most famous westerns of all time, George Stevens’s Shane (1953). George Stevens offered the role of Jett Rink in Giant (1956), but Ladd turned it down because it wasn’t the lead. Ladd’s last film was in a supporting role in The Carpetbaggers (1964).

 

Click HERE to watch the movie on the Internet Archive.

Click HERE to join the online discussion on Monday, August 4, 2025, 6:30 p.m. Central Time. Once you RSVP, you will receive an email with a link to join the Zoom discussion. 

 

Brian Donlevy, Veronica Lake, and Alan Ladd

The Glass Key trivia

• William Bendix accidentally knocked Alan Ladd in a fight scene.
• This was a remake of the version first filmed in 1935, starring George Raft in the Ladd role.
• Paulette Goddard was originally cast in the role of Janet Henry, but had to drop out due to a prior commitment. It was announced that Patricia Morison would replace her, but after the producers saw the chemistry between Lake and Ladd in This Gun for Hire (1942), Lake was cast as Janet.
• This was the second of the four Ladd/Lake pairings.

 

Discussion questions

1. What do you think of the second pairing of Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd?
2. Some film noir plots are hard to follow, or in some cases, are second to the relationships between the male and female characters. Was the plot of this film hard to follow?
3. What did you think of the supporting cast? Did anyone's performance stand out to you?
4. Did anything surprise you?
5. Was the ending satisfying, believable?

Veronica Lake, Robert Preston, and Alan Ladd in “This Gun for Hire”

Release date: May 13, 1942

Director: Frank Tuttle

Story by: Graham Greene

Adapted from: A Gun for Sale

Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd

This Gun For Hire, based on the novel by Graham Greene, was released in 1942, long before the label “film noir” was invented. As an early film in the genre, some of the plot devices that we associate with film noir are here: A killer who is a major protagonist, a cool female lead, an honest-by-the-book cop, and a double-crossing villain.

The plot concerns a hired gun named Raven (Alan Ladd) who has been double-crossed by a man named Willard Gates (Laird Cregar) who represents a chemical company that may be working with enemies abroad, selling them poison gas. To keep tabs on Gates, the U.S. government enlists a beautiful novelty entertainer named Ellen Graham (played by Veronica Lake). Ellen is a magician who sings while she performs her magic act. She auditions for Gates, who, in addition to his duties at the chemical company, owns a popular nightclub. Her audition captivates Gates, and he hires her.

Straight and vicious—that’s what this picture is. But it is a good cut above the average, both in its writing and its tensile quality. Bosley Crowther, The New York Times

While on a train to perform at Gates’s Neptune Club, she accidentally runs into Raven. Gates, also on the same train, sees the two sitting next to each other. He assumes they’re working together, which sets him on edge and puts Ellen’s life in danger. Ellen’s cop boyfriend, Michael (Robert Preston), does his best to save her and capture Raven.

Lake was an established star when the movie was released. Ladd, as Raven, gave a breakout performance, making him an overnight sensation. New York Times movie reviewer, Bosley Crowther, compared Ladd’s performance to James Cagney’s in The Public Enemy a decade earlier. In his 1942 review of the film, he said, “Keep your eye peeled for this Ladd fellow; he’s a pretty-boy killer who likes his work.” Crowther also complimented the leading lady: “Miss Lake is a competent customer, and handles her men with cool disdain.”

The chemistry between Lake and Ladd was noted by the public and the executives at Paramount. It didn’t hurt that Lake was 4'11" tall, making her the only leading lady Ladd worked with who was shorter than he was. Ladd was reported to be 5'5" tall. The two costarred in a total of four films, all of which were very popular with critics and 1940s film audiences.

Publicity photo with Ladd, Lake, and Preston

This Gun for Hire trivia

• Ladd and Lake made six more movies after This Gun for Hire: The Glass Key (1942), The Blue Dahlia (1946), and Saigon (1947). They also appeared as themselves in  Star Spangled Rhythm (1942), Duffy’s Tavern (1945), and Variety Girl (1947). 
• In the novel, Raven’s motivation for becoming a killer was due to his mother disfiguring his face. Paramount didn’t want Ladd’s handsome face to be maimed, so they had his aunt permanently cripple his wrist with a red-hot flatiron.
• The film was released five months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
• Nineteen-year-old Yvonne De Carlo appears as one of the showgirls at the Neptune Club. She’s uncredited.
• Laird Cregar was borrowed by Paramount from 20^th Century-Fox for this picture.

Click HERE to watch the movie on the Internet Archive.

Click HERE to join the online discussion on Monday, July 21, 2025, 6:30 p.m. Central Time. Once you RSVP, you will receive an email with a link to join the discussion on Zoom.

Discussion questions

1. This is considered an early must-see film noir. Would you recommend this film to your friends?
2. What did you think of the pairing of Alan Ladd with Veronica Lake? Do you see what audiences in 1942 saw?
3. Some of the violence was shocking to audiences in 1942. Is any of the violence in the film shocking or surprising to you?
4.  Was Laird Cregar convincing as Willard Gates?
5. Robert Preston was originally up for the role of Raven. The director thought Ladd presented a more menacing characterization. Do you think the film would have been the same if the roles were reversed? 

Alan Ladd and Olivia de Havilland shine in “The Proud Rebel”

The Proud Rebel (1958) is an American western directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Alan Ladd and Olivia de Havilland. Others in the case include Dean Jagger, Cecil Kellaway, Harry Dean Stanton (billed as Dean Stanton), and David Ladd.

John Chandler (Alan Ladd), a former Confederate soldier travels to Illinois in the hope that a doctor there can cure his mute son (David Ladd). Although he’s left his military service behind him, some of the Illinois townsfolk hold it against him. A couple of toughs set him up for arrest which puts him in contact with Linnett a woman farmer (de Havilland) who is up against the Burleighs who want her land.

Linnett helps Chandler get out of jail under the condition that he help her on her farm. With Chandler’s help, Linnett’s farm is more appealing to the bullying Burleighs.

Will Chandler help Linnett keep her farm and will David get his speech back?

Olivia de Havilland, David Ladd, and Alan Ladd

Michael Curtiz (1886 -1962) was a Hungarian-American film director who worked during Hollywood’s Golden age, directing some of the best loved classics from that era including The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) Casablanca (1942), and Mildred Pierce (1945). He directed James Cagney and Joan Crawford to Best Actor/Actress Oscar wins; he put Doris Day and John Garfield on the screen for the first time, making them major movie stars in the process. He’s also responsible for the pairing of Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland, one of Hollywood’s most famous screen teams. Other films directed by Curtiz include Angels with Dirty Faces (1938), The Sea Wolf (1941), Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), Life with Father (1947), and White Christmas (1954).

Alan Ladd (1913 – 1964) was an American actor and film producer. Before Ladd made in big in movies, he had a successful career on the radio. After numerous bit parts at just about every Hollywood studio, Paramount signed him to a long-term contract and crafted roles that propelled him to superstardom. Ladd established himself in films noir like This Gun for Hire (1942), The Glass Key (1942), and The Blue Dahlia (1946). Other important films include Two Years Before the Mast (1946) and The Great Gatsby (1949). Ladd also established himself in the western genre starring in Whispering Smith (1948) and one of the most famous westerns of all time, George Stevens’s Shane (1953). George Stevens offered the role of Jett Rink in Giant (1956) but Ladd turned it down because it wasn’t the lead. Ladd’s last film was in a supporting role in The Carpetbaggers (1964).

Olivia de Havilland (1916 – 2020) was a British-American actress and two-time Best Actress Academy Award winner. De Havilland’s career spanned more than five decades. She was one of the leading actresses of the 1940s and was the last major surviving star from Hollywood’s Golden Age. Some of de Havilland’s classic films include The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), Gone with the Wind (1939), Hold Back the Dawn (1941), To Each His Own (1946), The Snake Pit (1948), and The Heiress (1949).

The Proud Rebel trivia

• Alan Ladd, according to Olivia de Havilland, was leery of the reputation of Michael Curtiz to be tough on actors.
• Olivia de Havilland was basically retired and living Paris, France, when director Curtiz talked her into taking the role of Linnett.
• Adolphe Menjou was originally cast in the film but had to withdraw due to an injury to his leg.
• Production was halted when Curtiz had an emergency appendectomy.
• David Ladd received introducing credit even though he had appeared with his father in The Big Land (1957).
• The Ladd and de Havilland families became lifelong friends because of this film.

 

Click HERE to watch the movie on YouTube.

 

Click HERE to join the discussion on August 12, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time. Once you RSVP, you will receive an invitation with a link to join the discussion on Zoom.

 

Discussion questions

1. This was an unusual film for Alan Ladd. What did you think of his performance?
2. What did you think of Olivia de Havilland’s independent woman? Was her characterization believable?
3. Young David Ladd played the mute boy. Was his performance successful? Was he believable as the son of Alan Ladd’s character?
4. The film is filled with great character actors; do you have a favorite?
5. What was the film’s theme?

 

 

Review of “The Blue Dahlia” at #NoirCityChicago

I went to see The Blue Dahlia, at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., Chicago, last night. The 1946 Paramount release, directed by George Marshall was presented in a clean 35mm print. The original screenplay from detective story legend, Raymond Chandler is just a tad less confusing than Howard Hawks’s The Big Sleep released the same year. But like that Bogie and Bacall classic, The Blue Dahlia is just as enjoyable nonetheless.

Terrific publicity shot of Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake

Introduced by Film Noir Foundation Founder and President, Eddie Muller, who provided some interesting background information, as well as putting the film in context. For example, the film was rushed into production before star Alan Ladd was off to serve in the Navy toward the end of World War II. Muller also noted that Ladd’s Dahlia and frequent costar, Veronica Lake, was never a femme fatale, at least not in the films she made with Ladd. Muller said Lake, by contrast, was always a self-confident woman, a positive example to the women watching her on the big screen. Muller said that Ladd and Lake were the 1940s most popular acting team. Judging from the box office success of their films, one could reasonably make that argument.

Seeing the film with an audience was a delight. The best part of the film was the snappy dialogue between all the major characters. Some of the situations portrayed were laugh-out-loud funny, but probably weren’t meant to be so in 1946. Besides the top-billed Ladd and Lake, there’s great support from William Bendix, Doris Dowling, Howard Da Silva, and Hugh Beaumont (yes, Ward Cleaver before Leave it to Beaver fame).

Lobby card for The Blue Dahlia featuring Ladd and Lake

The plot surrounds the murder of Ladd’s wife after he returns home from military service. When Ladd discovers that his wife has been unfaithful and was responsible for the death of their young son, he walks out on her. Their arguing overheard by the house detective at Dowling’s bungalow, casts suspicion on Ladd when Dowling ends up dead. Ladd goes on the run when he realizes he’s a murder suspect. Lake picks up Ladd in her car when she finds him walking in the rain. Lake befriends Ladd and the two strike up an uneasy friendship. When it is revealed that Lake is the estranged wife of Da Silva, the nightclub-owning-gambler and Dowling’s boyfriend and potential murderer, things get complicated. Just about everyone in the movie has a motive to bump off Miss Dowling, which holds your suspense, but also makes the plot difficult to follow at times. But no matter, it’s the dialogue between Ladd and Lake and the other cast members (as Muller noted in his introduction) that really make this movie hum.

Without giving in to spoilers, let’s say that everything makes sense in the end.

The Blue Dahlia was a big hit for Paramount and one of the most popular of Ladd and Lake’s films. Ladd’s career continued to climb, but Lake’s was pretty much over by the end of the decade.

The Noir City Chicago film festival runs through August 23. The see the remaining films on the schedule, click here.

This Gun For Hire: 1st Film in “High Heels and Fedoras” series at Daystar Center February 12, 2013

Tuesday, February 12, 2013
6:30 p.m.
The Venue 1550 at the Daystar Center
1550 S. State Street

This Gun For Hire, based on the novel by Graham Greene, was released in 1942, long before the label “film noir” was invented. As an early film in the genre, some of the plot devices that we associate with film noir are here: A killer who is a major protagonist, a cool female lead, an honest-by-the-book cop, and a double-crossing villain.

The plot concerns a hired gun named Raven (Alan Ladd) who has been double-crossed by a man named Willard Gates (Laird Cregar) who represents a chemical company that may be working with enemies abroad, selling them poison gas. To keep tabs on Gates, the U.S. government enlists a beautiful novelty entertainer named Ellen Graham (Veronica Lake). Ellen is a magician who sings while she performs her magic act. She auditions for Gates, who apart from his duties at the chemical company, owns a popular nightclub. Her audition captivates Gates and he hires her.

Straight and vicious—that’s what this picture is. But it is a good cut above the average, both in its writing and its tensile quality. Bosley Crowther, The New York Times

Veronica Lake publicity still showing off
her iconic peekaboo bang

While on a train to perform at Gates’s Neptune Club, she accidentally runs into Raven. Gates, also on the same train, sees the two sitting next to each other. He assumes they’re working together, which sets him on edge and puts Ellen’s life in danger. Ellen’s cop boyfriend, Michael (Robert Preston) does his best to save her and capture Raven.

Lake was an established star when the movie was released. Ladd, as Raven, gave a breakout performance making him an overnight sensation. New York Times movie reviewer, Bosley Crowther compared Ladd’s performance to James Cagney’s in The Public Enemy a decade earlier. In his 1942 review of the film he said, “Keep your eye peeled for this Ladd fellow; he’s a pretty-boy killer who likes his work.:” Crowther also complimented the leading lady: “Miss Lake is a competent customer, and handles her men with cool disdain.”

Alan Ladd, Lake, and Robert Preston

The chemistry between Lake and Ladd was noted by the public and the executives at Paramount. It didn’t hurt that Lake was 4' 11" tall, making her the only leading lady Ladd worked with who was shorter than he was. Ladd was reported to be 5' 5" tall. The two costarred in a total of four films, all very popular with critics and 1940s film audiences.

To purchase tickets for the February 12 screening, click here. Tickets are $5 per person general admission and $3 for students and seniors. Tickets may be purchased at the door.

Discover the other films in this series by clicking here.

Backstory: The modern classic L.A. Confidential (1997) paid homage to film noir from the 1940s. Academy Award winner Kim Bassinger is Lynn Bracken, a call girl who adapts Veronica Lake’s iconic look.