The unsolved murder of the unfortunate Elizabeth Short--The Black Dahlia--has been enthralling Los Angelenos for decades. Steve Hodel, a former LAPD homicide detective, wrote a book, Black Dahlia Avenger, fingering his own father, Dr. George Hodel as the murderer. James Ellroy wrote the introduction, and the book stirred up a lot of local debate. He's just sold the film rights to New Line, after being courted by dozens of directors. Jeff Katz, a New Line exec, is a true-crime freak and was determined to get the rights to the story.

Brian De Palma's film, based on Ellroy's novel, opens next month, but if you just can't wait, you can always take the 1947 Project's Crime Bus tour.