D.O.A

 


Moviedrome Introduction


Film Details

Release Date: 1949

Director: Rudolph Mate

Stars: 
Edmond O'Brien as Frank Bigelow

Plot Summary 

The film opens with Frank Bigelow (played by Edmond O'Brien), an ordinary accountant from a small town, arriving in San Francisco for a short vacation. However, his plans take a sinister turn when he discovers he's been poisoned with a deadly toxin called luminous toxin. Frank learns from the doctors that he has only days to live, which sends him on a frantic quest to find out who poisoned him and why.

As Frank delves deeper into his investigation, he uncovers a tangled web of deception, betrayal, and murder. He retraces his steps, revisiting the places he had been and the people he had interacted with in the days leading up to his poisoning. Along the way, he encounters a diverse cast of characters, including his estranged girlfriend Paula Gibson (played by Pamela Britton), a shady businessman named Majak (played by Luther Adler), and a femme fatale named Marla Rakubian (played by Laurette Luez).

With time running out and his strength fading, Frank becomes increasingly desperate to solve the mystery before it's too late. He faces numerous obstacles and dangers as he races against the clock, ultimately confronting the shocking truth about his own murder and the dark forces behind it.

Personal History

I have watched the 1980s remake. I need to do the math to see if today is closer to the 80s, than the 80s was to the 1940s.

Current Review

Oldest film on Moviedrome, so far. A great start - a man stumbles into a police station to report a murder. A few questions lead to "who was murdered" and the answer is "I was".

The murder took place at a lively looking bar and during a wonderful scene. Who wouldn't want to drink with the Beatniks at the Fisherman's Jazz Bar?


Before this happens, we have an annoying Kazoo that is sounded whenever Bigelow passes a pretty lady. The Confessions films would have deemed it tacky. After, we have lots of running around, villains with a bad aim and big teeth and plenty of punches to the belly.

Typical Film Noir - femme fatales, double crossing and a suitably bleak ending.

Quirky Facts

  • Frank rents a car for $2.00 per day plus milage dated July 18, 1949. In a much later scene frank is seen standing near a picture of cover of a September 12, 1949 a life magazine picture cover on a news stand.
  • Director Rudolph Maté encouraged improvisation on set, allowing the actors to ad-lib some of their lines. This improvisational approach added to the film's naturalistic feel and contributed to its gritty and realistic atmosphere.
    • This rather explains the dialogue in the Jazz Club Scene

Quotes


  • Stanley Philips: You're certainly not the most diplomatic person in the world, are you, Bigelow?

Sustenance

There's a scene at the start of the film where Bigelow shares a lager with his squeeze, and co-worker. He downs his in one go, heads off to put money in the juke box and his girl swaps the glasses around.

She is a keeper.

Lager is the answer.

Future Inspiration

Some Noir Fiction, I think.  Which will no doubt lead to watching the film adaptations;
  • The Maltese Falcon - Dashiell Hammett
  • The Big Sleep - Raymond Chandler
  • The Postman always rings twice - James M Cain

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