IMDb > D.O.A. (1950)
D.O.A.
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips
Videos (see all 2)
D.O.A. (1950) -- Frank Bigelow, told he's been poisoned and has only a few days to live, tries to find out who killed him and why.
D.O.A. (1950) -- Frank Bigelow, told he's been poisoned and has only a few days to live, tries to find out who killed him and why.

Overview

User Rating:
7.5/10   3,526 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 15% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Russell Rouse (writer) and
Clarence Greene (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for D.O.A. on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
30 April 1950 (USA) more
Tagline:
A picture as excitingly different as its title!
Plot:
Frank Bigelow, told he's been poisoned and has only a few days to live, tries to find out who killed him and why. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
1 win more
NewsDesk:
Interview: Christian Volckman
 (From ioncinema. 5 October 2006)

User Comments:
The definitive Film Noir.... more (93 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Edmond O'Brien ... Frank Bigelow
Pamela Britton ... Paula Gibson
Luther Adler ... Majak

Beverly Garland ... Miss Foster (as Beverly Campbell)
Lynn Baggett ... Mrs. Philips
William Ching ... Halliday
Henry Hart ... Stanley Philips
Neville Brand ... Chester
Laurette Luez ... Marla Rakubian
Jess Kirkpatrick ... Sam
Cay Forrester ... Sue
Frank Jaquet ... Dr. Matson (as Fred Jaquet)
Lawrence Dobkin ... Dr. Schaefer (as Larry Dobkin)
Frank Gerstle ... Dr. MacDonald
Carol Hughes ... Kitty
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
83 min | West Germany:77 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Debut of Beverly Garland. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: After finding out who's in the photo, Bigelow leaves the photography studio and immediately starts getting shot at. He heads toward the factory (screen right) where the shots are supposed to be coming from, but all the shots being fired and ricocheting off the ground, pipe, barrel, etc. are coming from the other direction (screen left). more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Homicide Detective: Can I help you?
Frank Bigelow: I'd like to see the man in charge.
Homicide Detective: In here...
Frank Bigelow: I want to report a murder.
Homicide Captain: Sit down. Where was this murder committed?
Frank Bigelow: San Francisco, last night.
Homicide Captain: Who was murdered?
Frank Bigelow: I was.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in La strada (1954) more

FAQ

What does D.O.A. stand for?
Is this available on DVD?
more
20 out of 21 people found the following comment useful.
The definitive Film Noir...., 13 October 2003
Author: JOHN_REID from Australia

Frank Bigelow: "I want to report a murder." Homicide Captain: "Where was this murder committed?" Frank Bigelow: "San Francisco, last night." Homicide Captain: "Who was murdered?" Frank Bigelow: "I was."

It must be the dream of all directors to open a film with a scene or line which carries great impact and remains in the memory. The opening line in D.O.A must rank among the most dramatically effective and intriguing lines that has ever opened a movie. This is the quintessential film noir. Edmond O'Brien as the tough, hard drinking businessman who has grown tired of the normalcy of his life and the clinging Paula. His holiday in San Francisco is an opportunity to break the shackels. The premise that the hero has been given a slow poison for which there is no cure, and only a day or so to solve his own murder before he dies, is exceptional. We also have an array of sultry "bad girls", a seedy villain and a manic hitman. Rudoph Mate directs brilliantly, not missing a moment to twist and turn the action at a fast pace with no dull moments. Scenes of O'Brien running through city streets after he has learned his fate are superb with incredibly realistic wide shots. The fact that his direction is so effective makes one wonder how he could have allowed the lapses of ridiculous canned "wolf whistles" whenever the hero passed a good looking girl in the early scenes. Although these "wolf whistles" are really out of place and very annoying, the film is so effective that we can forgive the indiscretion. This is a classic example of a brilliant plot superbly told in a way that is still gripping 50 years after it was made. D.O.A. defines Film Noir.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (93 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for D.O.A. (1950)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Chester - Neville Brand 42ndStreetMemories
Finally Got It!!! Spoilers richsass
The Wolf Whistles badger-37
The Real Killer? SPOILER ALERT darqueknight
Guests at the LA hotel include... hammondmania
Uncredited actors we all recognize LCShackley
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Fugitive Shadow of a Doubt The Maltese Falcon Out of the Past Foreign Correspondent
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.