The Blue Gardenia (1953): Cast & Plot
The Blue Gardenia is a 1953 mystery crime film directed by Fritz Lang, starring Sam Harris as Nightclub Patron at Blue Gardenia (uncredited), Victor Sen Yung and Anne Baxter. It runs 1 hour 29 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 29m (89 min)
- Director
- Fritz Lang
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Blue Gardenia Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Blue Gardenia About?
The premise of The Blue Gardenia without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
She isn’t the innocent lily‑white type; locals dub her the ‘Clinch‑and‑Kill’ girl. After waking to the shocking report that the man she dated the night before has been found dead, she can only recall fragments of that evening. She begins to wonder whether she unintentionally killed him while fighting his unwanted advances.
The Blue Gardenia Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- title based on song
- memory lapse
- color in title
- murder
- telephone operator
- handkerchief
- burning evidence
- voice over letter
- coffee shop
- newspaper columnist
- newspaper
- birthday
+38 more Show fewer
- cocktail
- dear john letter
- blind date
- title sung by character
- portrait drawing
- candlelight dinner
- broken mirror
- detective novel
- cleaning lady
- false accusation
- drunkenness
- sketch artist
- record store
- phonograph record
- little black book
- incinerator
- fireplace poker
- fingerprinting
- exoneration
- destroyed evidence
- attempted suicide
- womanizer
- bludgeoning
- switchboard operator
- restaurant
- title spoken by character
- flower in title
- f rated
- police officer
- birthday present
- dear jane letter
- playboy
- tracing a telephone call
- table side juke box
- diner
- lace handkerchief
- sexual assault
- gardenia
The Blue Gardenia Cast & Characters
Sam Harris leads the cast as Nightclub Patron at Blue Gardenia (uncredited), with Victor Sen Yung as Blue Gardenia Waiter (uncredited) and Anne Baxter as Norah Larkin. Directed by Fritz Lang; 46 actors are credited in all.
- Director Fritz Lang
- Sam Harris as Nightclub Patron at Blue Gardenia (uncredited)
- Victor Sen Yung as Blue Gardenia Waiter (uncredited)
-
Anne Baxter as Norah Larkin -
Raymond Burr as Harry Prebble
Also Starring in The Blue Gardenia
· 42 more- Ann Sothern Crystal Carpenter
- Richard Conte Casey Mayo
- Jeff Donnell Sally Ellis
- Nat 'King' Cole Nat King Cole
- George Reeves Sam Haynes
- Ruth Storey Rose Miller
- Tommy Lee Waiter (uncredited)
- Lee Phelps Information Desk Guard (uncredited)
- Frank O'Connor Passerby (uncredited)
- Kenner G. Kemp Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
- Jeffrey Sayre Police Recorder (uncredited)
- Frank Ferguson Drunk Reporter (uncredited)
- William Haade Patrolman Hopper (uncredited)
- Amzie Strickland Woman at Bar (uncredited)
- Norman Leavitt Bill (uncredited)
- Ray Walker Homer
Show all 46 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Robert Shayne Doctor (uncredited)
- Sailor Vincent Drunken Sailor (uncredited)
- Almira Sessions Cleaning Lady (uncredited)
- Richard Erdman Al
- Joey Ray Prebble's Assistant (uncredited)
- Larry J. Blake Music Shop Clerk (uncredited)
- William Phipps Lt. George Foster (voice / uncredited)
- Hugh Sanders 'Chronicle' Managing Editor (uncredited)
- Mike Donovan Fingerprint Officer (uncredited)
- Robert Bice Policeman (uncredited)
- Sam Finn Photographer (uncredited)
- Carl Sklover Photographer (uncredited)
- Celia Lovsky Mary (uncredited)
- Gail Bonney Policewoman (uncredited)
- Victoria Horne Disturbed Woman w/Big Feet (uncredited)
- Edward Clark News Stand Dealer (uncredited)
- Jess Kirkpatrick Detective (uncredited)
- Marjorie Stapp Policewoman (uncredited)
- Dolores Fuller Woman At Bar (uncredited)
- Fay Baker Switchboard Monitor (uncredited)
- Lela Bliss Miss Stanley (uncredited)
- Elizabeth Flournoy Assistant Switchboard Monitor (uncredited)
- Frank Kreig Drunken Reporter (uncredited)
- Papa John Creach Man Playing Violin (uncredited)
- Peggy McKim Sneezing Girl (uncredited)
- Alex Gottlieb Man (uncredited)
The Blue Gardenia Plot Summary
What happens in The Blue Gardenia from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
On her birthday night in Los Angeles, Norah Larkin opens a letter from her fiancé, a soldier serving in the Korean War, and discovers that he plans to marry someone he met in Tokyo. The revelation hits hard, leaving Norah reeling as she processes a future that isn’t what she hoped for.
Devastated, she dials up a date with Harry Prebble, a calendar-girl artist who hosts a South Seas–themed hangout. When she arrives at the Blue Gardenia, Prebble is surprised to find Norah waiting instead of her roommate Crystal Carpenter. He tends to her with tropical cocktails, and Norah’s confusion and sadness deepen into drunkenness as the evening unfolds.
Full summary
The whole story of The Blue Gardenia, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Blue Gardenia?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the woman who receives a heartbreaking letter on her birthday night?
Cars in The Blue Gardenia
8 cars on screen, including the 1946 De Soto Taxicab and the 1952 Nash Ambassador.
-
1946 De Soto Taxicab Minor role -
1952 Nash Ambassador Minor role -
1950 Nash Rambler Convertible Landau Minor role -
1951 Plymouth Cambridge Minor role
The Blue Gardenia Also Known As
8 alternative titles, including “Gardenia - Eine Frau will vergessen” and “La Femme au gardénia”.
- Also known as
-
- Gardenia - Eine Frau will vergessen
- La Femme au gardénia
- Gardenia blu
- Gardenia azul
- Синята гардения
- 蓝色栀子
- A Gardênia Azul
- Sininen gardenia
Seen The Blue Gardenia?
Movies Like The Blue Gardenia
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Blue Dahlia, The Blue Villa and Murder in Blue Light.
The Blue Gardenia FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Blue Gardenia, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Blue Gardenia?
The Blue Gardenia runs 1 hour 29 minutes (89 minutes).
When was The Blue Gardenia released?
The Blue Gardenia was released on March 20, 1953.
Who directed The Blue Gardenia?
The Blue Gardenia was directed by Fritz Lang.
More films by Fritz Lang Who is in the cast of The Blue Gardenia?
The Blue Gardenia stars Sam Harris as Nightclub Patron at Blue Gardenia (uncredited), Victor Sen Yung as Blue Gardenia Waiter (uncredited) and Anne Baxter as Norah Larkin, among 46 credited actors.
Does The Blue Gardenia have a post-credit scene?
No. The Blue Gardenia has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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