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Title: D.O.A. (1988)
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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 |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
See All (52) »
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. Written by Rob Hartill
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.Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
18 March 1988 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Dead on Arrival See more »Edit
Box Office
Opening Weekend USA:
$3,751,432, 20 March 1988Gross USA:
$12,706,478Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$12,706,478Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
DolbyAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
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
See more »
Written by Mike Scott & Karl Wallinger
Performed by The Waterboys
Courtesy of Ensign/Chrysalis Records
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The dead student is named "Nick Lang", a name combining those of two directors famous for working in film noir, Nicholas Ray and Fritz Lang. One of the policemen is surnamed "Ulmer", a reference to another famous film noir director, Edgar G. Ulmer. The heroine is surnamed "Fuller", very likely a reference to Samuel Fuller. The name of the hero, "Dexter Cornell", may be drawn from two famous writers of noir fiction, Pete Dexter and Cornell Woolrich. See more »Goofs
Dexter suddenly gains glasses when he first asks Sydney to join him for a date. See more »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
See more »
Crazy Credits
The opening Touchstone Logo is in black & white and the logo's flash is accompanied by a thunder clap. See more »Soundtracks
DON'T BANG THE DRUMWritten by Mike Scott & Karl Wallinger
Performed by The Waterboys
Courtesy of Ensign/Chrysalis Records
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
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"D.O.A" is an involving and entertaining little picture from start to finish. Dennis Quaid is at his caustic best; and Quaid is sadly one of the most underused talents in Hollywood. His then beau Meg Ryan also appears with him, but as is usually the case, doesn't really make much of an impact.
The film is stylishly directed throughout, drawing on a number of influences to capture its 'seamy' feel. Would you credit that it's actually directed by two people? The answer is no. The whole thing is superbly slick, from its innovative camerawork to its unabashed use of black and white photography. All these elements help to keep proceedings fresh.
Really the greatest thrill here is to be had with the dialogue, it's snappy yet intricate, doesn't waste a word and yet still manages to be entertaining. The screenplay for this is like a pocket work of art.
This went unnoticed by me for ages before I finally caught it late at night. If this is the first you've heard about it, don't leave it like I did! Catch it soon, it really is top-notch... !
If you're in the mood for a solid genre flick that manages to surprise at every turn, this really fits the bill.