“Sudden death sells papers.”

In The Blue Gardenia Norah Larkin (Anne Baxter) is a naive telephone operator who sits at home most evenings. Her fiance is stationed in Korea, so while Norah’s two roommates enjoy their social lives, Norah turns down offers and stays home to read letters from Korea. Artist/playboy Harry Prebble (Raymond Burr) telephones one evening–he thinks he’s calling one of Norah’s roommates, but he gets a distraught Norah instead. Norah accepts Prebble’s invitation to meet for dinner at the Blue Gardenia. After downing half a dozen Polynesian Pearl Divers, a very inebriated Norah accompanies Prebble to his home. The next day, Norah can’t remember a thing, but newspaper headlines announce Prebble’s murder–and a hunt begins for the mysterious blonde murderess now known as The Blue Gardenia.

The Blue Gardenia–directed by Fritz Lang–is film noir, but it is also considered an entry in the sub-genre of newspaper noir. A great deal of the plot focuses on newspaperman Casey Mayo’s unethical attempts to contact the murderess and get an exclusive story. Mayo (Richard Conte) will stop at nothing to sell the paper, and he capitalizes on sensationalism and the sleazy aspects of the murder. The Blue Gardenia is an interesting film as it has a few twists on some familiar themes–for example, the killer is a woman, and a male offers comfort (although it’s a false offer). Plus Norah’s reputation is at risk by even admitting she’s stepped into a man’s apartment–anyone who downs 6 Polynesian Pearl Divers is a real floozy in everyone’s eyes. There’s also an appearance of Nat King Cole singing Blue Gardenia. The initial set-up with Norah and her roommates was refreshingly original, and Anne Baxter gave a credible performance as the naive Norah.