CheerupSilver Very Cool!!!

TrueJoshNight Truly Dreadful Film

Freaktana A Major Disappointment

CrawlerChunky In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

JohnHowardReid Copyright 21 April 1950 (in notice: 1949) by Cardinal Pictures Inc. Released through United Artists. New York opening at the Criterion: 30 April 1950. U.S. release: 21 April 1950. U.K. release (on the lower half of a double bill): 29 May 1950. Australian release: 4 August 1950. 7,518 feet. 83 minutes.SYNOPSIS: A vacationing accountant spends his remaining days searching for his murderer after poison is slipped into his drink at a San Francisco nightclub. NOTES: Re-made in 1969 as Color Me Dead, and then re-made again (this time under its original title) in 1988.COMMENT: Edge-of-the-seat excitement delivered by a novel, intriguing and for the most part ultra-taut (the final scene between O'Brien and Britton would have been twice as effective at half the length) script; imaginative shooting in the actual streets, buildings (including the famous Bradbury Building) and transport of Los Angeles and San Francisco; driving direction by Rudolph Mate - the best of his career - as he stunningly forces the camera to track madly along the roadways; and vividly realistic acting by the leads and the entire cast down to the smallest bit player. Superlatively moody cinematography should be added to the ledger. And I liked Tiomkin's score, though many critics complained it was too Mickey Mouse and/or intrusive. I thought it perfect. An emotional romantic theme coupled with suitable mood "pointers" puts the drama across with a vitality that matches the powerful camerawork.OTHER VIEWS: All producer Harry M. Popkin's films are must viewing for connoisseurs. This one is no exception, despite the typically very slow beginning. Edmond O'Brien is not quite able to manage all the dialogue, while Pamela Britton is a bit of a drawback as his lady love, but Ernest Laszlo's camera, brilliantly filming on location in San Francisco is actual buses and sub-ways and warehouses and jazz dives, along with Rudolph Maté's surprisingly vigorous direction (I would certainly rank this as his most powerful film) of Rouse and Greene's riveting script, all adds up to superlatively thrilling entertainment. - JHR writing as Charles Freeman.

csab-39797 I've seen most Film-oiNoirs but when I stumbled across D.O.A. I wasn't expecting much since I'd never heard of it. Well 15 min in I was hooked. The concept of the story nont only drags you in like a true who done it story but it makes you think "what would you do?" "How would you act?" It's crazy to think of. Anyway I highly recommend this film .. It's fast paced and keeps your attention if you're not a film noir fan.j

arfdawg-1 The Plot: Small-town accountant Frank Bigelow goes to San Francisco for a week's fun prior to settling down with fiancée Paula. After a night on the town, he wakes up with more than just a hangover; doctors tell him he's been given a "luminous toxin" with no antidote and has, at most, a week to live! Not knowing who did it or why, Bigelow embarks on a frantic odyssey to find his own murderer.They don't make film noir like this no more. And we are lesser for it.From the very first frame this movie will capture your attention. My only complaint is that the print I saw on DVD was atrocious. The sound was fluttering and low. Still, the specialness of this movie was apparent through the haze.It's really a gem. Someone should restore it.

amerlyn Interesting idea and should have been done better. Poorly written. Pacing very inconsistent throughout. Sequences go on and on, for no good reason, but tighter cutting would have made an already short film even shorter. Often sequences, such as the night-club near the beginning, go on and on and become boring. Likewise the hotel convention goer business is too long and repetitive. The wolf whistle business jerked the viewer out of the film and was a reminder of slip-whistles in Laurel and Hardy films. The Neville Brand (usually a reasonably solid character player) psychotic character is so overdone, as to be laughable. The whole thing gives the impression of being hastily and drastically cut. This is not one of Edmund Obrien's better films. In my opinion, not even close to Siodmaks' "The Killers". Big disappointment. I kept watching thinking it would improve but it never did. An interesting plot idea which should have made a much better film.