On the occasion of Venice 81, for the programming of Rai Movie, Black Dahlia will be broadcast. The film will once again stir excitement among fans of true crime, cinema, and novels. Directed by Brian De Palma, Black Dahlia is based on a true story as well as the 1987 novel of the same name by James Ellroy.
The Flower of Death: The Black Dahlia
Inspired by the real-life crime case of Elizabeth Short, this film partly diverges from the facts to embrace the story told by Ellroy in his novel The Black Dahlia.
The film follows the events of two former boxers, now police officers and partners at work: Dwight “Bucky” Bleichert and Leland “Lee” Blanchard. The two will find themselves investigating the brutal murder of Elizabeth Short, an aspiring actress and alleged former prostitute, dubbed “The Black Dahlia” by the press. Just like in reality, the discovery of the body is heartbreaking: naked and horribly mutilated. A death so shocking that it prompted authorities and the press to refrain from releasing images.
Set in Los Angeles in 1947, the film sees the investigations of the case alongside other characters. The beautiful Kay Lake, Lee’s current girlfriend, whom Bucky is also in love with, will play an important role in their lives. However, the young Bucky will end up infatuated with Madeleine Linscott, the daughter of one of the city’s most influential men who has a mysterious connection to the victim.
Black Dahlia: Analysis of a Dark Thriller
The Black Dahlia is a dark crime thriller. Set in 1940s America, the atmosphere reflects the old noir and black-and-white detective films. To evoke those moods and keep the audience on a different plane than the characters, an external narrator has been included: the voice of Bucky, who sporadically recounts events, providing information to the audience.
The music, varying depending on the situation, helps the audience immerse themselves in the atmosphere: from the cheerfulness of a nightclub to the anxiety of more violent scenes. Similarly, many sounds are highlighted and amplified, especially during close-ups of characters or objects.
The viewer remains detached for much of the film, except when the camera moves through Bucky’s eyes. In that case, it becomes one with him.
As in any respectable detective story, especially one set in America, alcohol and cigarettes are undeniable protagonists. They almost take up more space than the investigations themselves. Some subplots, triggered by the investigations, are overlooked as if they were not truly relevant to the story.
The viewer lacks the opportunity to conduct their own personal investigation. The case of the Black Dahlia, which should be central to the narrative, gets lost among the numerous surrounding details.
Black Dahlia: Beyond Crimes and Passion
The cast of Black Dahlia features high-caliber actors, such as the very famous and highly regarded Scarlett Johansson (The Avengers, Lucy, Asteroid City) who plays the beautiful Kay. Alongside her are Josh Hartnett (The Virgin Suicides, Oppenheimer), as Bucky and Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight, I, Frankenstein), as Lee.
Other actors and actresses who contributed to the film’s success should also be mentioned, such as Hilary Swank, Mia Kirshner, Fiona Shaw, Victor McGuire, Gregg Henry.
