D.O.A.

Released Dec 23, 1949

1h 23m

Crime

Drama

List

88%

Tomatometer

25 Reviews

75%

Audience Score

2,500+ Ratings

Frank Bigelow (Edmond O'Brien) is about to die, and he knows it. The accountant has been poisoned and has only 24 hours before the lethal concoction kills him. Determined to find out who his murderer is, Frank, with the help of his assistant and girlfriend, Paula (Pamela Britton), begins to trace back over his last steps. As he frantically tries to unravel the mystery behind his own impending demise, his sleuthing leads him to a group of crooked businessmen and another murder.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Mate's direction of the first portion of the story lingers too long over it, spreading the expectancy very thin, but when he does launch his suspense-building it comes over with a solid wallop.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Nick Schager

Slant Magazine

Rudolph Mat's seminal thriller rapidly decomposes into a campy, confusing bore.

May 1, 2006

Full Review

Walter Goodman

New York Times

Incidental pleasures include a bevy of suspiciously beautiful women... the wide lapels and fedoras favored by the heavies, and the ''in'' talk of the period, featuring words like ''hip,'' ''jive'' and ''kicks.''

Mar 25, 2006

Full Review

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Is an intriguing film noir by Rudolph Maté. Although the plot is familiar to me in its presentation of fraud, passion and murder, it's entertaining enough to keep me hooked. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 7/10

Aug 3, 2020

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...an underwhelming thriller that could and should have fared so much better.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 27, 2015

Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

[VIDEO ESSAY] A high-concept movie before there was such a thing, "D.O.A." foreshadowed the poisoning of (possibly) Yasser Arafat and (definitely) Alexander Litvinenko - via polonium-210 - by a half-century.

Rated: A-

Apr 27, 2014

Full Review

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Deke P

Interesting. & some glookn dames. EDMUND O'BRIEN, for a paunchy guy with not much charisma he sure starred in lots movies. He gets poisoned (POLONIUM? same stuff Putin uses on opponents?) and has a day to solve mystery. & an unrecognizable younger NEVILLE BRAND played Chester. I givin it a 3 1/2 RT stars, 'good'. Never heardo til saw on the tv screen 3.30.23

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A good premise is hindered by somewhat uneven execution until a solid third act saves the day.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

Nadya R

Great film noir! Edmond O'Brian, Luther Adler, Neville Brand are stand-outs! LOVE the overly dramatic theme music, photography, the whole schmaggege!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/11/21

Full Review

Audience Member

Contrary to its title, the movie starts with an electric, enlivening conceit only to falter from poor, enervating execution.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

There are some cringeworthy moments in this noir. For instance, there's a sequence where the protagonist sees multiple attractive women at a party and we hear the corniest wolf-whistles. In another scene, the acting with Edmund O'Brien and Pamela Britton, when they proclaim their love for one another has to be the worst over-the-top performances ever seen. But, overlook the blemishes. The premise is great and the ending won't cheat you.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

andy f

Get past the awful first 10minutes and the worst leading lady in history and much of this twisty noir is entertaining if you can keep your wits about you. It's novel but far from the classic many say it is.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Rudolph Maté

Director

Edmond O'Brien

Frank Bigelow

Pamela Britton

Paula Gibson

Luther Adler

Majak

Beverly Garland

Miss Foster

Lynn Baggett

Mrs. Philips

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Synopsis

Frank Bigelow (Edmond O'Brien) is about to die, and he knows it. The accountant has been poisoned and has only 24 hours before the lethal concoction kills him. Determined to find out who his murderer is, Frank, with the help of his assistant and girlfriend, Paula (Pamela Britton), begins to trace back over his last steps. As he frantically tries to unravel the mystery behind his own impending demise, his sleuthing leads him to a group of crooked businessmen and another murder.

Director: Rudolph Maté
Producer: Leo C. Popkin
Screenwriter: Russell Rouse, Russell Rouse, Clarence Greene, Clarence Greene
Production Co: Cardinal Pictures
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 23, 1949, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 17, 2016
Runtime: 1h 23m

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