Radio review – Screen Guild Theatre – “Blue Dahlia” (1949) **1/2

Alan Ladd reprises one of his most famous film performances, with the added bonus of Veronica Lake returning. It’s decent enough but the running time is under half and hour so the suspects are reduced to Ladd, the hotel detective and Lake’s husband/his dead wife's lover – the William Bendix plot is cut out entirely, and that of their third friend. It says something about the patch work quality of Raymond Chandler's original script that this isn't too noticeable. There is plenty of slangy dialogue and tough talk. It's well acted by Ladd, well-ish acted by Lake, and solid support from the rest of the cast. If you want a quick "McDonalds" version of this story, this is ideal.