MysteryThrillerCrime

D.O.A.

- A Picture As Excitingly Different As Its Title!

Frank Bigelow is about to die, and he knows it. The accountant has been poisoned and has only 24 hours before the lethal concoction kills him. Determined to find out who his murderer is, Frank, with the help of his assistant and girlfriend, Paula, begins to trace back over his last steps. As he frantically tries to unravel the mystery behind his own impending demise, his sleuthing leads him to a group of crooked businessmen and another murder.

Release Date : 1949-12-23

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Cardinal PicturesHarry Popkin ProductionsUnited Artists

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : Dead on arrivalD.O.A.

Cast

Character Name : Frank Bigelow

Original Name : Edmond O'Brien

Gender : Male

Character Name : Paula Gibson

Original Name : Pamela Britton

Gender : Female

Character Name : Majak

Original Name : Luther Adler

Gender : Male

Character Name : Miss Foster

Original Name : Beverly Garland

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mrs. Philips

Original Name : Lynn Baggett

Gender : Female

Character Name : Halliday

Original Name : William Ching

Gender : Male

Character Name : Stanley Philips

Original Name : Henry Hart

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chester

Original Name : Neville Brand

Gender : Male

Character Name : Marla Rakubian

Original Name : Laurette Luez

Gender : Female

Character Name : Sam

Original Name : Jess Kirkpatrick

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sue

Original Name : Cay Forester

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dr. Matson

Original Name : Frank Jaquet

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Schaefer

Original Name : Lawrence Dobkin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. MacDonald

Original Name : Frank Gerstle

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kitty

Original Name : Carol Hughes

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dave

Original Name : Michael Ross

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nurse

Original Name : Donna Sanborn

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man in Hallway (uncredited)

Original Name : Harold Miller

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man at Fisherman Table (uncredited)

Original Name : Sam Harris

Gender : Male

Character Name : Homicide Detective (uncredited)

Original Name : George Lynn

Gender : Male

Character Name : Angelo (uncredited)

Original Name : Phillip Pine

Gender : Male

Character Name : St. Francis Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)

Original Name : Bill Baldwin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Club Trumpeter (uncredited)

Original Name : Teddy Buckner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Eddie - Bartender (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Cady

Gender : Male

Character Name : Police Captain (uncredited)

Original Name : Roy Engel

Gender : Male

Character Name : Eddie - Salesman on Phone (uncredited)

Original Name : Douglas Evans

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jeanie (uncredited)

Original Name : Virginia Lee

Gender : Female

Character Name : Leo - Bartender (uncredited)

Original Name : Peter Leeds

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jazz Fan (uncredited)

Original Name : Hugh O'Brian

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bellhop (uncredited)

Original Name : Jerry Paris

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jane Carlyle (uncredited)

Original Name : Lynne Roberts

Gender : Female

Character Name : Photographer (uncredited)

Original Name : Ivan Triesault

Gender : Male

Character Name : Girl at Hotel Room Party (uncredited)

Original Name : Beverly Warren

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bandleader (uncredited)

Original Name : Jadie Carson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Club Bassist (uncredited)

Original Name : Shifty Henry

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bellhop (uncredited)

Original Name : David Jansen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Club Pianist (uncredited)

Original Name : Ray Laurie

Gender : Male

Character Name : Club Saxophonist (uncredited)

Original Name : Van Streeter

Gender : Male

Character Name : Club Drummer (uncredited)

Original Name : Cake Witchard

Gender : Male

Reviews

talisencrw

@talisencrw

2021-06-23

Edmond O'Brien is one of my favourite actors of the period, and if you need any startling evidence of why, just check out his performance here in Rudolph Mate's heartily original noir-shocker, 'D.O.A.'. Another great reason to check the film out, the Polish-born director, made a smooth transition from being a great cinematographer, and this is probably his most shining triumph helming a picture. If you have ever wondered why 'film noir' has been considered such a consistently rewarding and enthralling body of cinematic work, like the earlier 'Pre-Code' era, check this one out, and others of its ilk. A sheerly delightful film that holds up well today. Though I haven't checked its 80's remake out, I'm not too curious about it, other than the slight curiosity from its notoriety of it being the film in which Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan met and eventually decided to marry. Other than that, I'm more than content simply watching this.

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-07-09

"I was to report a murder"... "Whose?"..."Mine!"... Edmond O'Brien is cracking in this dark and atmospherically paced thriller about a man who discovers that he has been deliberately poisoned by luminous toxin and may only have a few hours/days/weeks left to live. He can't understand who would want to do this and sets out to find the culprits. Much of the story is recounted via his "deathbed" explanation to an unbelieving police squad room and it is superbly directed (by Rudolph Maté) with loads of twist and turns in the plot; a tension-building score and more than one potential candidate for villain. Pamela Britton "Paula" is also great as his albatross-like girlfriend who would long since have driven me to bathe in a tub of uranium and the rest of the cast, especially a truly sinister Neville Brand as "Chester" keep us interested right til the death...