This 1975 TV movie brilliantly portrayed the tragic true story of an young aspiring actress and her brutal murder in 1947, which has never been solved.The story told in flashbacks with some style for an old TV movie. Very good acting and well written screenplay mostly based on facts. Although Elizabeth Short's murder scene was one of the most disturbing crime scenes ever recorded in history, this movie never tried to exploit it by using unnecessary gore, which may disappoint a few fans of the genre. Here the focus is on the characterization of Elizabeth Beth.Lucie Arnaz did well playing the innocent yet mysterious young and gorgeous Beth. It was very sad at times and depressing as well. Efrem Zimbalist Jr. was superb as the detective who was obsessed and frustrated with the mystery beauty. The co-stars did their parts okay.A true hidden gem. Probably one of the best TV movies made in the 70s.

Sober dramatization of the infamous murder case of a delusional young woman in post-WWII Lo Angeles. The so-called Black Dahlia was a girl from Maine who went to L.A. to be reunited with her father only to end up end up a homeless hustler who dreamed of stardom. Her cut-up body was found in a field, and to this day, no one has been convicted of her death. Lucie Arnaz plays the lost soul and Efrem Zimbalist is the detective trying to solve her murder. For what little money the filmmakers had to make this TV movie, they did a fine job. The irony of all this is, if the girl had not been brutally slaughtered, we would have never heard of her. Just another small-town kid with big dreams and not equipped to achieve them. She just floats along from day to day, dressed all in black and convincing others to take care of her. I've known a few like her in my time. We all have.

This is by far the best-told, best-acted and best-produced of all the many movies about Elizabeth Short's story.Lucie Arnaz's restrained performance succeeds in presenting Short as a woman of thwarted ambition, floating in a vacuum of failure, just hanging on by a thread. She should have received an Emmy for it.This version of the Black Dahlia story has more in-depth characterization of Elizabeth Short than other versions, which go more for sensationalism. I don't understand why "Who Is The Black Dahlia?" isn't out on DVD, especially considering its cult following.

Literate, well-told, consistently excellent review of the events leading to the disappearance of the Black Dahlia? Marvelous performances, especially by Zimbaliest, Beckman, Mills, and DeHaven. Mystery buffs and crime drama enthusiasts alike should find this one as excellent exercise for the mind.