The Blue Gardenia

Relatively minor but still gripping film noir, in which Baxter, jilted by her soldier fiancé, goes on a blind date with Burr, gets drunk...and awakes to discover that the pushy playboy has been murdered, quite possibly by herself. The story, which continues with news-reporter Conte's attempts first to get the killer to come forward and then to clear Baxter's name, is not altogether original, but Lang, his cast, and cameraman Nic Musuraca manage to inject the proceedings with a grimly compelling atmosphere. And the title? It's the name of the nightclub where Baxter's fateful encounter with Burr occurs, and where Nat King Cole contributes a welcome musical cameo.