The Black Dahlia (Widescreen Edition)

The Black Dahlia case was one of the most gruesome and legendary unsolved mysteries in Los Angeles history. You would think that story along with director Brian de Palma would lead to something substantial. You would be mistaken. The movie isn’t really about that murder. It’s about police officer Josh Hartnett and the love triangle he finds himself in with his partner Aaron Eckhart and Scarlett Johansson. Not only that but not enough happens to keep even that plot interesting. De Palma tries to give the movie a neo-Noir feel with Hartnett giving a voice over and filming everything with a dark hue but that can’t save it. I would recommend people avoid this to save themselves 2 hours of their life.

"The Man Who Laughed" is the film that The Joker character was based off of. Unfortunately, The Black Dahlia Murder was never directly connected in the public's mind to The Joker character but that is exactly the point. The smile carved into her face is the symbol of The Joker and "Ed Jokisch" from the LAPD is the inspiration for The Joker character. Within the 1969 Zodiac Killer Cryptogram, the Black Dahlia killers are named --Jokisch, Tully and Tully's abortion Dr. assistant. The victim was arranged in the shape of a HEIROGLYPH which means 'bearded man' as part of a cult Egyptian dark magic ritual which centered around abortion and slave baby rings which go at least as far back as the Jack The Ripper case, which is also directly connected to the ZK and the Dahlia murder. The reason for the name of the notorious British killer is that Beethoven's "Eroica" symphony was famously 'ripped in half' when he found that Napoleon had made himself Emperor and the Zodiac Killer's symbol is a musical Coda, mentioning the famous symphony in its coded messages. The Ripper was connected to an abortion/prostitution ring wherein a royal bastard was prevented from being born. The connection to the Pinkerton's seals the deal that the same cult which won the Civil War for the imaginary Lincoln (a character created by the Masonic elitists under Pinkerton, but if you compare all Lincoln pictures you will find that he could not have been a real human being) since we've had the same frauds put on us one after the other since the formation of the new government under Lincoln. The Pinkerton's are the security outfit which became the corporate masters of the US Police Forces, and that power is still in place-- since most don't know.The medical personnel who drained the blood and removed the organs from Smart's body were highly skilled from practicing abortion illegally with Jokisch of the LAPD apparently overseeing the racket. US Government sponsors sex slaves under National Security so breeding human beings in order to serve as sex slaves for blackmail, gangstalking and other political objectives. This is on record as a National Security issue and is secured by law enforcement. In other words, this is government sanctioned human breeding for sexual slavery which makes use of their slaves for dirty tricking in political contexts. Thus the condition of Ms. Short without organs, being separated in two halves and displayed as a heiroglyph was a clear indication of the medical team indicating Ms. Short had been the victim of retribution by a human trafficking ring with an Egyptian based cult theology practicing black magic rituals to defend their criminal enterprise.In the first "Batman" comic-- look on the hat of The Joker character when he is in a police uniform. Where the number of the badge for the officer is or "LAPD" would be, in tiny lettering you can see 'j o k i s c h' indicating the partnership with Warner Brothers, Ed Jokisch, the LAPD and the creation of a criminal network which produces actual crimes then announces them in code to the public.Thanks Brian! It's not bad but could have use a bit of script doctoring just for entertainment's sake, or you could use a better editor. Something because it's a bit sticky but you're still great.

For those who after all these years have not viewed this film, let me begin by saying, if you are seeking a film that covers the death of Elizabeth Smart, aka the Black Dahlia, in dramatic detail and storyline, you will be disappointed. I suggest you seen out the numerous documentaries that are out there.The Black Dahlia tag line is simply the enticement to draw you in. Elements of the history, as well as some falsehoods about the crime and the victim are presented. What we have is a beautifully filmed story of 2 cops, 1 girlfriend, and 1 mentally disturbed girl, complete with costume design and grand sets that artfully paint the LA/Hollywood scene of the late forties...with numerous twists and turns, and confusionThe film is adapted from a novel, and originally ran over 3 hours in length, but was trimmed to its final release of just over 2 hours. Perhaps we need a full directors cut to be released to aid in filling in some of the questions one may have.One interesting part I found was how the Universal silent film, The Man Who Laughs, starring Conrad Veidt, was incorporated into the film. The main characters go to see the movies to see it....and much later, a painting of Conrad Veidt, as Gwynplaine is hanging on the wall in a scene. I am not certain that a 1928 silent film would be showing at a theater in 1947, but both Dracula and Frankenstein were re-released in 1947, so perhaps it's not so out of a possibility.Enjoy the film for what it is. The bluray presentation is excellent, as are 'extras.' My only complaint is the lack of a commentary by de Palma or other film historian for added context.

Condition of the "used" disc was perfect. This dealer obviously operates within a margin of caution and I appreciate that. The Ellroy novel is of secondary magnitude in his early fifties/late forties set stories. The Hollywood industry bludgeoned the movie undeservedly. Probably because it was shot in Bulgaria. This dealer is to be commended for determining inventory on quality on merits (both physical disc and critical reception) and not social subjectivity. This is an operatic film, probably one of the most beautiful in the auteur's oeuvre.. I salute this dealer for seeing this and carrying it.

Black DahliaThis is the fictionalised story by James Elroy is of the real Black Dahlia murder of 1947,a crime which is officially unsolved, inspite of several good books that suggest who did it.This film is interesting on many levels, the sets, the locations and the vehicles along with the clothing is just like you were back in 1947. Details such as a faded peeling painted sign on a pet store looks perfect.The screenplay has many twists and turns, I feel it should have had more of a direction from a Detective's eye view of the crime they were trying to solve, but that is only a small point and those who have not done that type of job will not really consider that perspective. James Ellroy has never been a Police Officer, but he writes good Police inspired works. He has and shows great knowledge of the job without actually having done it!(James Ellroy's mother's murder from around the same era has driven him to investigate that for himself for many years, indeed that has been his 'Bette Noir' so to speak, his own driving force to find the truth, as with Betty Short's murder, others have had the same obsessive journey to find the truth. Indeed, some think that Ellroy's mother, Betty Short and a number of other unsolved cases are linked.)Brian DePalma again scores with a great film, the main 4 charachters are well chosen and Hilary Swank plays a great manipulative seducer who 'walks both sides of the same street' - watch the film to see what I mean.Scarlett Johansen plays a fragile beauty with a past that has been damaged, hidden and abusive . Josh Hartnett and Aaron Eckhart play the tough 'Fire and Ice' Police Detectives to the hilt. A pre- Dirty Harry era duo in some cases.You certainly don't want to take your eye off the ball for long in this film as there are lots of undercurrents and interplays between the charachters going on here, you really do have to watch the film to ensure you don't miss them.I watched all the special features items on the DVD first which was a help in seeing what the team was trying to achieve often before a camera had rolled.To return to the central charachter, Elizabeth Ann Short, 'Betty Short' - the Real Black Dahlia, the back story of Short with other aspiring actresses in the film is a theme that weaves through the screenplay.One point I did feel was not through and only from a professional point of view is that when Bucky Bleichert is searching a woman's room, he only seemed to do it a cursory way - the handbag he looked through should have been tipped right out and the letters in it taken as evidence and actually read by someone as they may have contained useful information, rather than what I would call a cursory rummage, or maybe that was supposed to be the way it was intended or written.Even with these minor discrepancies, no doubt I would watch the film again as it is well acted and the sets and visual feast of the 1940's era is so well done. This film does deserve its place in the Film Noir category for those reasons.

The quality of the DVD was fine but the story is little confused to follow! I think if you had read the book it would be fine and it did come together well at the end I will re-watch it and it is enjoyable so giving four stars!

hassle free transaction.no spoilersIt seemed like a long movie to me. Yes establish characters and plot lines but keep the story moving. also the story is now so hackneyed if you're going to tell it tell it well. tis was only told adequately.A strong cast but no stand out performances.bit of violence and bit of nudity.It tried to evoke a style and sort of pulls it off but with the same money and talent I can't help feeling it could have been done so much better.I'm guessing it was done around the same time as Mullholand Falls - but for me it's just not in the same league.Its ok to pass some time but not greatACID TEST: would I buy again/recommend? no

The quality of the DVD is really quiet no matter how loud you turn it up; and the story is really slow and tediously drawn out.Don't waste your money