MOVIE DETAILS
A tale of obsession, love, corruption, greed and depravity that revolves around a true story of the brutal murder of a fledgling Hollywood starlet that shocked and fascinated the nation in 1947 and remains unsolved today. Two ex-pugilist cops, Lee Blanchard and Bucky Bleichert, are called to investigate the homicide of ambitious silver-screen B-lister Betty Ann Short--A.K.A. "The Black Dahlia"--an attack so grisly that images of the killing were kept from the public. While Blanchard's growing preoccupation with the sensational murder threatens his marriage to Kay, his partner, Bleichert, finds himself attracted to the enigmatic Madeleine Linscott, the daughter of one of the city's most prominent families--who just happens to have an unsavory connection to the murder victim.BIOGRAPHY OF THE DEATH OF ELIZABETH SHORT
On January 15, 1947 a woman had been walking on the sidewalk in the 3800 block of Norton St., in Liemert Park, Los Angeles. She caught a glimpse of what appeared to be a department store mannequin lying in the weeds; the top half separated from the lower half. As she approached the mannequin, she realized that it was actually the nude body of a woman.Officers Frank Perkins and Will Fitzgerald were the first upon scene. What they saw both shocked and appalled them. The body had been severely mutilated and in fact, cut in half. The dead woman had been posed with her arms above her head and her face and breasts had been slashed. Rope burns marked her ankles and her legs were spread eagle with the letters "BD carved into one thigh.The officers surmised that due to the lack of blood both on the body and around the scene, the woman was killed elsewhere and her body was dumped in the lot sometime during the night or early morning.By the time the officers phoned for assistance a gaggle of reporters and photographers had swarmed the scene, infuriating investigators Harry Hansen and Finis Brown. Hansen and Brown had been assigned to the case because of their veteran status within the homicide department.Upon the release of the murder to the press, confessions began to pour in to the police department, straining the resources of the LAPD homicide team. But none of the stories could ever be validated. The case later recognized more interest when James Ellroy wrote The Black Dahlia in 1987.To date, according to the LAPD, the case goes unsolved. Though Janice Knowlton has authored a book naming her father as the killer, police have not reported Ms. Knowlton's statements or information as holding any water at all.The case remains on the back burner of the LAPD cold case file until some new writer stirs up renewed interest in a book or news report. The files are briefly opened once again, but the lack of evidence, and openness regarding Beth's life force the case back into the depths of some file cabinet within the Los Angeles Police Building.FACTS ABOUT ELIZABETH SHORT
Eizabeth Short Born July 29, 1924, in Hyde Park, Mass., Beth Short was the daughter of Phoebe and Cleo Short. Although her legal name was Elizabeth Short, many called her Betty, and as she grew up, she preferred to be called Beth.In 1929, Betty's father disappeared. Many believed he had committed suicide, since his empty car was found near a bridge. Many years later he sent a letter to his wife, apologizing for abandoning the family. Phoebe refused to allow him to return.Beth grew up to become a beautiful teenager - she looked older and more sophisticated than others her age. She frequented movies with her mother, sparking a dream to become a movie actress.At age 19, Beth ventured to Vallejo, Calif., to live with her father. The stay did not last long, however. Her father asked her to leave because he said she was lazy and stayed out too late.Near Santa Barbara was Beth's next stop. It was here where she was arrested for underage drinking. After her arrest and fingerprinting, police instructed the young woman to return home to Medford.At one time she had gone home for a visit, but Beth was determined to be in movies, and returned to Hollywood. It has not been determined if her nickname, Black Dahlia, was given to her before her death or after. Some say that her pale white skin coupled with her penchant for black, lacy clothing lead to the moniker. Others believe the name was applied by journalists to sensationalize the crime.It was mid-January, 1947, when Beth was last seen alive at the Biltmore Hotel. It was reported that she was to meet a gentleman. After leaving the hotel, she was never again seen alive.POSSIBLE SUSPECTS As the police continued the investigation, reconstruction of her last days pointed to several possible suspects but subsequent investigations never panned out. Beth was staying at the Biltmore Hotel before planning to move back to Massachusetts with her sister. She had returned to Los Angeles from San Diego, where she met with a man by the name of "Red" Manley. Manley claimed that he could help break the young girl into films, but he was mostly interested in getting into her pants. After their meeting, Manley drove her to the Biltmore and waited with her in the lobby. She was supposed to meet some friends, but they never showed up. Manley informed her that he had to leave. Short bid him farewell and walked out of the hotel onto Olive Street.. The date was January 9, 1947. She was never seen alive again.Her whereabouts over the last five days before her body was discovered has never been determined. Her mother was called to identify the body which was later buried in Oakland, California at Mountain View Cemetery, originally in plot 6, grave 913. But cemetery personnel will divulge no information about the burial plot. Although it is reported that plot numbers have even been altered to keep the morbidly curious at bay, the following directions might get you close: Going down the main drag, just past the fountain, take the drive going left. Go up the hill to the right of a large dark crypt. Her grave should be there.Shortly after Beth's funeral, a mysterious package arrived at the LA police department. It contained Beth's belongings including her purse, ID, the address book of a local nightclub owner. Upon examination of the returned items, it was determined that no possible lead could come from the evidence. Everything had been washed in gasoline, removing all fingerprints.ELIZABETH'S BODY CONDITIONS
The officially cause of death was "hemorrhage and shock due to concussion of the brain and lacerations of the face." Although the Los Angeles Police Department will not comment on the specifics of the weapon used to sever Beth's body, it is believed the killer used a butcher knife to eventually saw her in two.Following are excerpts from the official coroner's report: There are multiple lacerations to the midforehead, in the right forehead, and at the top of the head in the midline. There are multiple tiny abrasions and lacerations. The trunk is completely severed by an incision, which is almost straight through the abdomen.... There are multiple crisscross lacerations in the suprapubic area, which extend through the skin and soft tissues.There are lacerations of the intestine and both kidneys. The uterus is small and no pregnancy is apparent. The tubes, ovaries, and cul-de-sac are intact.... Within the vagina and higher up there is lying loose a piece of skin with fat and subcutaneous tissue attached. On this piece of loose skin there are several crisscrossing lacerations. Smears for spermatozoa have been taken.The anal opening is markedly dilated and the opening measures 1 1/4" in diameter.... There are multiple abrasions.... Smear for spermatozoa has been taken.....The stomach is filled with greenish brown granular matter, mostly feces and other particles, which could not be identified. All smears for spermatozoa were negative.It appeared as though many of the lacerations, including the dilation of the anal opening, were done after the woman's death.Who Killed Elizabeth Short?
Among the more than 50 "confessing Sam's", people who admit to a crime they didn't commit in order to gain popularity, none were ever arrested and put on trial. The only person ever actually arrested was Red Manley. The 26-year old married man was placed under intense investigation and was even paraded in front of the press in handcuffs. Manley passed every lie detector test and was eventually cleared of all suspicion.!