The plot summary alludes to an actual murder in
Hollywood:
Plot Summary for
Who Is the Black Dahlia? (1975) (TV)
Dramatization of an actual homicide investigation. In
1947
Los Angeles, a
police detective tries to solve the shocking and grisly
murder
of 22-year-old
aspiring actress Elizabeth Short, whose nude body was dumped
in
a lot after
being bisected with surgical precision. The detective
interviews
people who
knew Short, who was called "The Black Dahlia" because of
the
black outfits she
wore.
I have not read Ellroy's "Black Dahlia" yet, so am not sure,
but this
sounds like the real case that may have been the
source.
Further search reveals that it is indeed. This is from the
Mysterious
Bookshop page on "The Black Dahlia" at
http://www.concentric.net/~mediasi/dahnvls.htm
"Ellroy, who has since the murder of his own mother been
fascinated with
researching cases like that of Elizabeth Short, wrote this
novel
centering around the LAPD's investigation of the Short
case.
-- Dick Tartow
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