D.O.A. (1988)

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 ... See full summary »

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 | professor | 

---

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

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 March 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dead on Arrival

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$12,706,478

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bigelow Productions, Silver Screen Partners III, Touchstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Black and White (some sequences) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie's directors Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel are married.

---

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

Mrs. Fitzwaring: How did you know about Nick?
Dexter Cornell: I'm psychic.
Bernard: Good. Then you know what's going to happen to you.

---

Crazy Credits

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

---

Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Little Nikita/Vice Versa/D.O.A./Off Limits/Stand and Deliver (1988)

---

Soundtracks

LIFE IS HARD
Written by Pat MacDonald
Performed by Timbuk 3
Courtesy of I.R.S. Records

User Reviews

awesome remake !cool ,awesome stars, great cast!!

This movie is an awesome remake of the original by the same title. The movie was cool,despite the fact, I hate new ones! All of the cast was awesome . It has great cast and an awesome plot!! The main plot is a man is poisoned and he has to solve his own murder , neat eh?!Dennis Quaid is the man who is "D.O.A"(in other words Dead On Arrival).He finds help with his friends, but everyone is now a suspect!!Dennis's character has several hours to find out who poisoned him. The movie is quite fast and full of action. You can see two other big stars in Meg Ryan(City Of Angels,Courage Under Fire) and Daniel Stern(Home Alone, Very Bad Things,Bushwhacked) in supporting roles in this awesome ,cool remake of a classic movie!!