D.O.A. (1988)

A college professor's day: his top student allegedly commits suicide, his wife presents him with divorce papers and he overnights in a freshman girl's dorm. The next day: more murders around him. Will he find the killer in time?

Directors:

Annabel Jankel, Rocky Morton

Writers:

Charles Edward Pogue (screenplay), Charles Edward Pogue (story)

Stars:

Dennis Quaid, Meg Ryan, Charlotte Rampling

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dennis Quaid	...	Dexter Cornell
Meg Ryan	...	Sydney Fuller
Charlotte Rampling	...	Mrs. Fitzwaring
Daniel Stern	...	Hal Petersham
Jane Kaczmarek	...	Gail Cornell
Christopher Neame	...	Bernard
Robin Johnson	...	Cookie Fitzwaring
Robert Knepper	...	Nicholas Lang (as Rob Knepper)
Jay Patterson	...	Graham Corey
Brion James	...	Detective Ulmer
Jack Kehoe	...	Detective Brockton
Elizabeth Arlen	...	Elaine Wells
Karen Radcliffe	...	Jane Corey
William Forward	...	Chief Resident
Lee Gideon	...	Mr. Fitzwaring

Storyline

Dexter Cornell, an English Professor, becomes embroiled in a series of murders involving people around him. Dexter has good reason to want to find the murderer but hasn't much time. He finds help and comfort from one of his students, Sydney Fuller.

---

Plot Keywords:

english professor | poison | dead on arrival | neo noir | race against time | 

---

Taglines:

Someone poisoned Dexter Cornell. He's got to find out who. He's got to find out why. He's got to find out now. In 24 hours, he'll be Dead On Arrival.

---

Genres:

Mystery | Thriller

---

Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Rock group Timbuk 3 make a brief appearance in the film.

---

Goofs

At the end of the movie, Dex shoots the villain, who falls out of a window. Dex shot the villain in the front and the villain took several steps backwards without turning around. The next shot shows the villain very obviously jumping out of the window by running up to it facing forward and spinning around in the air.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Dexter Cornell: I need to speak to Detective Ulmer
Desk Sergeant: What for?
Dexter Cornell: I need to report a crime
Desk Sergeant: What crime?
Dexter Cornell: A murder
Desk Sergeant: [confused] Who was murdered?
Dexter Cornell: [finally looks up at him] I Was

---

Crazy Credits

The opening Touchstone Logo is in black & white and the logo's flash is accompanied by a thunder clap.

---

Connections

Remake of D.O.A. (1949)

---

Soundtracks

IF YOU SEE ME LAUGHING
Written by Erik Hokkanen
Performed by Erik Hokkanen (as Erik) & The Offbeats

User Reviews

Pretty good update of the original film, with good performances.

OK, so this film may not have won any Oscars, but it is not a bad film. The original "D.O.A." is undoubtedly a better film, but that does not mean this film is bad.

The film stars Dennis Quaid in one of his early roles, when he was first becoming really famous, after "The Right Stuff" made him a star, and a very lovely looking Meg Ryan, when she was still now quite famous.

This is more of an "update" of the 1950 film, rather than a remake, since the setting is different and the characters too, are different. The plot is pretty much the same. A man (this time an English professor at the University of Texas at Austin) is poisoned and he has only 24 hours to find out who poisoned him and why. Meg Ryan plays a young college student who tries to help him. Jane Kaczmarek plays Quaid's estranged wife, in a low key, but intense performance; she steals every scene she is in. Daniel Stern (also in an early role, before "Home Alone" made him famous) plays Quaid's colleague. Charlotte Rampling is fine too in a supporting role.

The entire cast is top notch; The film is stylish, with a quick pace that keeps you guessing until the end.

I think this is a film that is certainly worth watching as a thriller, and as a modern version of a classic film.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 March 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dead on Arrival

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,751,432, 20 March 1988

Gross USA:

$12,706,478

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$12,706,478

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bigelow Productions, Silver Screen Partners III, Touchstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color Black and White (some sequences)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1