MovieChat Forums > The Black Dahlia (2006) Discussion > The Black Dahlia case needs to be made i...

The Black Dahlia case needs to be made into a film...this is not it...

posted 8 years ago by Veritas_Lux_Mea
11 replies | jump to latest

While I enjoyed this film and would love to see the longer director's cut of it a new film needs to be made about this case.

The truth is far more interesting, stranger, and a much more gripping tale than Ellroy's novel.

The Dahlia's killer was a man named George Hill Hodel and his accomplice in the crime was likely Fred Sexton...the man who created the falcon statue for John Huston's film The Maltese Falcon. Yes, Huston was friends with both of these men as was Man Ray...who inspired the crime.

Orgies, incest, art, the movies, a house that looks like a Mayan temple where the murder was committed...more murders committed by these men including a copycat Dahlia murder. This would make one hell of a film.

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[–] Moonlighty 8 years ago

It's interesting you know who committed an unsolved murder.

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Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that I'll be over here looking through your stuff.

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[–] LTUM (1037) 6 years ago

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 6 years ago

Can I assume you think George Hodel murdered her? We don't -- can't -- know if that's the truth, although I agree it would make a much more interesting, compelling film specifically about the historical Black Dahlia than this. This told a different story, and its focus was on that, with T (fictionalised) BD an integral part.

Even if Steve Hodel is wrong, it's a much more interesting story.

Sidenote: While I think George Hodel is a good likely suspect (as did the police), I can't buy that his father committed all the crimes he now accuses him of, primarily because he has no evidence of it and bases this on lots of flimsy conjecture.

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[–] LTUM (1037) 6 years ago

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 6 years ago

Interesting, I didn't know the LAPD wouldn't take his calls. I knew they were hardly thrilled with him, for obvious reasons, but it's more telling that DA won't speak with him anymore.

To me what was most compelling (spoilers added) [spoiler]is the LAPD thought George was such a person of interest they bugged his house and phone, for several weeks or more, if I remember correctly. Also that part of what George said in one phone call was "What if I did kill the Dahlia?"

No matter what the truth is, it was fascinating that finding those two photos, one of which didn't look like Elizabeth Short at all, lead Steve to uncovering that his father *was* suspected of murdering her, when prior to that he'd have had absolutely no reason to tie his father and she together. That was amazing. IMO, the other photo did resemble her, and whether or not she is ES, it's a very disturbing photo.[/spoiler]

The mystery itself, yes. Even Steve Hodel's discoveries and journey by itself would make a great movie, as long as he wasn't in charge of the direction it took.

Ah well, blame the title on the book.

I've never seen From Hell, or heard of it, but now I'm kind of interested. 1-10, how would you rate it?

The Zodiac stuff is what did him in for me too. What next, George was Jack the Ripper too?

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[–] LTUM (1037) 6 years ago

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 6 years ago

Thanks! I'll give it a try. Hopefully it's available on Amazon Prime :)

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 6 years ago

Damn, not on Prime. But I can rent it through Amazon, and I may do that.

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[–] Otter (24464) 6 years ago

Well "I Am The Night" wasn't it, either.

I really doubt that a fantastic movie or TV show can be made about this case, without veering off into fiction. The case is unsolved, and you just can't do that much with an unsolved case, if you stick to the truth.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 6 years ago

I think Steve Hodel's story would make a great Black Dahlia movie, as long as someone else was in charge of it and didn't follow him into the territory of accusing his father of being responsible for all grisly murders of women during that timeframe and beyond.

The ending would have to be left open, with the audience left to form their own opinions and to speculate on what they think really happened.

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[–] LTUM (1037) 6 years ago

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