Exoticalot People are voting emotionally.

Smartorhypo Highly Overrated But Still Good

SpunkySelfTwitter It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

Aiden Melton The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

adrian-43767 It is inevitable that films date, especially those of the film noir/femme fatale type which were so specific to the 1945-1955 period, possibly in response to the end of World War II. Suffice it to look at the cars on show to know that the film is dated, so to me, dated or otherwise matters not one iota. What matters is the actual story and relations among the characters.In this case, the main character, Navy skipper Morrison (played by Alan Ladd) returns home from the war to find his wife throwing a party, and bestowing her attentions on the rather smug top villain Harwood (Howard da Silva), whose real name is Bauer (a German name, to boot).Ladd's character is Hamlet-like, seemingly moving between Malibu and other places to stay away from his wife, but never staying, and in the process he meets Lake, who -- small world -- is married to Harwood. But the two are such decent and good people that, though obviously in love with each other, never take it further. Despite being the leads, they do not even appear for that long on the screen, their acting ability is not particularly evident, and Lake's character, in particular, is so bland that anyone could have played it. Of course, they were the hot duo of the day after the success of THIS GUN FOR HIRE, and the studio capitalized on that popularity, but their relationship does not have much of an impact on proceedings.Fellow soldier William Bendix, with a metal plate in his head, and constantly forgetting things, steals the show, as does the blackmailing motel caretaker played by Will Wright.What seems to begin as an action film noir, eventually turns into a whodunnit, which does not make it exactly credible. The supposed femme fatale, Morrison's deceitful wife, dies early on, so she is fatal to herself. Lake's character is slightly duplicitous - married to Bauer but in love with Morrison - but she is otherwise a kind soul, certainly no femme fatale.Those are some of the holes in Raymond Chandler's screenplay. George Marshall's direction is assured but average, and photography is possibly the film's strongest aspect. 7/10.

JelenaG890 All right, so this is not a perfect film by any means but it does make for a pretty good film noir. In parts, the film does seem a bit rushed and chaotic. However, that all makes when you read the trivia section of the film on IMDb- the production of the film itself was rushed due to several factors, including Alan Ladd's expected induction back into the military service.After seeing several of her films, including this one, I can honestly say Veronica Lake is a fascinating screen presence in all of her scenes. She and Ladd,whatever their differences may have been in real life, did have real chemistry on-screen.Lake may not be the best actress there ever was, but she had a certain charisma about her in all of her roles, and although this role doesn't demand very much, she makes the most of her time in the role. She was also very beautiful, and my eyes always go right towards her whenever she is on-screen (no offense to Ladd.) Hers is a very sad story of how quickly a film career can go south, and I find it kind of sad that she was branded so difficult to work with by many of her co-stars.Fortunately, a lot more is understood about mental illness these days, and some actors (Catherine Zeta Jones is one example) who suffer from it can still enjoy a successful career. Lake had a truly outstanding role in "So Proudly We Hail!" and you can really see how talented she actually was in that film. It's hard to believe she was so young both when when her career started and ended.The supporting cast of this film is also great. It's nice to see Hugh Beaumont play a role other than Ward Cleaver, and Doris Dowling is a stunning woman, even as Alan Ladd's nasty wife. All in all, it's a fun movie and I'm glad I discovered it.

tomgillespie2002 George Marshall's The Blue Dahlia marked the third time leads Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake starred together in a film noir - following This Gun for Hire and The Glass Key (both 1942) - and, more notably, the first time that legendary author Raymond Chandler penned an original screenplay. Chandler's infamous struggle to finish the screenplay after the studio refused to shoot his original ending - while filming was rushed through in fear of Ladd having to return to the Army - works both in favour of the film and against it. On one hand, The Blue Dahlia is a rather scrappy, messy noir, lending it a certain ruggedness, and on the other hand the film's climax seems rather sudden and out of the blue.Three discharged Navy officers, Johnny (Ladd), Buzz (William Bendix) and George (Hugh Beaumont), arrive home after serving in the South Pacific. Before Johnny returns to his wife Helen (Doris Dowling), the three stop for a drink and almost get into a fight when Buzz, suffering from shell shock and a metal plate in his head following a war injury, demands that a fellow officer turn off the loud 'monkey music' that causes him to suffer from delusions. At his home, Johnny returns to discover his wife drunk and having a none-too-discreet affair with nightclub owner Eddie Harwood (Howard Da Silva). Livid, Johnny threatens her with a pistol before leaving and eventually hitching a ride with Joyce Harwood (Lake), who just happens to be Eddie's ex. When Helen turns up dead the next day, Johnny finds himself on the run from the law with a mystery to unravel.While it was understandably overshadowed by Howard Hawks' masterpiece The Big Sleep released the same year, The Blue Dahlia is a solid piece of film-making, bolstered by a suspenseful central murder mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end. Ladd is suitably stoic and hard-boiled as the protagonist, but the film undoubtedly belongs to Bendix as the unpredictable and somewhat tragic damaged war hero, with the film's opening scene establishing just how lovable yet threatening his character can be. Chandler didn't warm to Veronica Lake, famously dubbing her 'Moronica Lake' and suggesting she works best when she keeps her mouth shut and sits pretty. His comment was certainly unfair - Lake was an enigmatic screen presence - and Chandler punishes her with a rather slight amount of screen-time and a character who fails to offer any real impact on the plot. Still, this is a clever, engrossing noir, with special mention also going to Da Silva, one of the victims of the Hollywood blacklist.

Harlan Ames I last saw "The Blue Dahlia" years ago in a college film class. I remember liking it. Now that I've seen it again I find it a mixed bag. There are fine moments but the total package is unsatisfying.The story concerns returning WWII vet Johnny Morrison (Alan Ladd) going on the run when he's suspected of killing his two-timing wife (Helen Morrison). He's aided by Navy pals George (Hugh Beaumont) and Buzz (William Bendix), the latter suffering from what we now call PTSD. Complicating things are shady night-club owner Eddie Harwood (Howard Da Silva) and Joyce Harwood, Eddie's sultry ex (Veronica Lake). Johnny dodges miscellaneous thugs, cops, and plot twists in his quest to unmask the real murderer.The script was written by Raymond Chandler. Hollywood legend says Chandler had to get drunk to overcome a writer's block preventing his finishing the job. It's easy to believe, because the script is a mess. Alongside truly great scenes are baffling digressions which belong in a different movie. Joyce's romance with Johnny comes from nowhere and contributes nothing to the narrative. Much has been said about Navy Department pressure forcing the studio to change the killer's identity. Maybe in 1946 a homicidal vet would have shocked audiences, but to this modern viewer it's obvious early on whodunnit. The finished movie's final revelation may not be convincing, but at least it's a surprise.Though he comes close to going over the top in a couple of scenes, William Bendix is terrific as Buzz, the tortured vet. To Chandler's credit Buzz is a complex character. Though basically sympathetic, Buzz's affliction makes him prickly and erratic, a challenge his buddies don't quite know how to handle. Bendix makes the most of a challenging role.The leads are disappointing. Alan Ladd is convincingly tough in only a few scenes. It doesn't help that he's so well-scrubbed and pretty-looking. The part calls for someone with rougher edges. Pretty is about all Veronica Lake has to offer. Many people deride Lake's acting ability, but the real problem is that as Joyce she has nothing to do. Her character could be eliminated with little effect on the story. Doris Dowling is downright bizarre as Helen, the murdered spouse. She expresses inner turmoil by twitching, grimacing, and rubbing her stomach as if she were acting in a silent movie.The surprise of the cast is Howard da Silva. When he first appeared as Eddie Harwood I hated him. He looks like Walt Disney and speaks in a flat, tired voice. He seems anything but a powerful upscale hood. But as the story unwinds we see behind Eddie's facade. Cowed by Helen, yearning hopelessly for lost Joyce, Harwood is in over his head, projecting a smooth image while struggling just to stay afloat. In one of the movie's nicest scenes he finally faces reality. Weary and beaten, he confesses to Johnny that inside he always knew he was a small time guy trying to make it in a world that was way beyond his reach. Da Silva's performance proves to be dead on the money, and Harwood ends up one of the film's richest characters.