D.O.A. - Dead On Arrival
1949, 83 minutes, Rated PG
D.O.A has one of the most compelling openings in film history; a man stumbles into a police station to report a murder. "Whose?", the officer on duty asks, "My own" the man reploes. He then proceeds to recount, in flashback, how he has taken a dose of poison that has no antidote, and recounts his efforst to find out who has tricked him into taking it and why. His journey takes him through the streets of San Francisco and Los Angeles, gathering clues, trying to uncover the kille rbefore his time is up. This film noir classic stars Edmond O'Brien as the insurance salesman who has been content to live life one day at a time, until one of those days turns out to be his last. Pamela Britton co-stars as his secretary, whom he plans to marry. And Neville Brand turns in a chilling performance as a psychotic criminal.
Hailed as a masterpiece by students of the genre, D.O.A. was directed by Rudolf Mate, the Krakow born, Budapest educated filmaker who apprenticed as a cinematographer for Fritz Lang and Ernst Lubitsch, among others. As director, Mate uses all the tools at his disposal, Odd camera angles, sudden cuts and a lightning-fast pace - to make this powerfully exciting cinematic nightmare. Remande twice in 1969 as Colour Me Dead; and again in 1988, as D.O.A, starring Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan.
- Director:
- Rudolph Mate [5],
- Starring:
- Neville Brand [10], Edmond O'Brien [12], Luther Adler [3], Pamela Britton [1], Beverly Campbell [1], Lynn Baggett [1],
- Screen Formats:
- Full Frame 1.33:1
- Language and Sound:
- English Mono
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