The Blue Dahlia

An excellent illustration of postwar disillusionment, this complex tale of blackmail and murder explores the psyche of servicemen returning after World War II to a home that seems to have changed beyond recognition. Mystery writer Raymond Chandler’s original script won an Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay, and Alan Ladd gives one of his best performances as a soldier who becomes the prime suspect in the murder of his unfaithful wife. Veronica Lake portrays a wisecracking, seductive runaway, and William Bendix imparts a powerful tragicomic presence in the role of Ladd’s shell-shocked buddy.