D.O.A. (1949)

[Allhallowsday]

D.O.A. (1949) 
Starring EDMUND O'BRIEN, PAMELA BRITTON (and BEVERLY GARLAND credited as BEVERLY CAMPBELL), this well-known "film noir" is just terrific!  I had seen most of it before, more than once, but today I got to see the beginning, and it has it's dated and hammy moments (particularly in the acting, typical of its era) but what an unusual and wonderful film!  I watched most of it late this afternoon, and it is stunning!   Aside from its disturbing premise, a poisoned man with very little time to figure out why he was murdered, this movie has some of the most stunning bright daylight NOIR shots I've seen in a Film Noir.  You may see many online comments and reviews about the "dark" aspect of this film (as one would expect with Film Noir) but in fact this important film is unlike any other Noir I've seen.  This one redefines the term: Noir need not be nighttime, but can be whitewashed in urban, abandoned, and industrial settings, shot in scorching white sunlight.  I do like EDMUND O'BRIEN quite a bit anyway, but I think this may be his best performance.   NEVILLE BRAND makes a very early (and first credited) film appearance as the psychopathic and terrifically creepy Chester who can't wait to murder EDMUND O'BRIEN (who's already running out of time).   It's cool. 

Anyone else a fan of this intense, fast paced, and gruesome film? 

[Rev. Powell]

D.O.A. (1949)  

Anyone else a fan of this intense, fast paced, and gruesome film? 

Yes---though I haven't seen it in decades, I do remember it as fairly great. I even thought the Dennis Quaid/Meg Ryan remake was OK.

[major jay]

I like it a lot.
Like you said, there are a few scenes where O'Brien does some cringe worthy overacting, but mostly he's spot on. The shots of San Francisco are great, and I love the jazz club scene with the hipster crowd.
I also noticed Jerry Paris, from the DICK VAN DYKE SHOW, playing a bellboy.

[alandhopewell]

     I recently obtained a DVD copy for a buck, and thoroughly enjoyed it again.

BTW, there's an Austrailian version, from 1969, IMS, called COLOR ME DEAD. Not too bad.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qd5RMdaSuk" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qd5RMdaSuk</a>

[Allhallowsday]

     I recently obtained a DVD copy for a buck, and thoroughly enjoyed it again.

D.O.A. is in the public domain, so apparently there are several versions available.  I'd buy that for a dollar! 

BTW, there's an Austrailian version, from 1969, IMS, called COLOR ME DEAD. Not too bad...

I have not seen COLOR ME DEAD, but I am aware of it. 

[The Burgomaster]

I wouldn't say I'm a hardcore fan, but I do enjoy watching this movie from time-to-time.  I have it in a Mill Creek 50 Movie Pack, so it's at my fingertips every day.

[JaseSF]

Haven't seen it now in many years but recall really enjoying it. Actually first caught the remake back when I was sick from school as a teenager and that lead me to check out the original which was far superior. I'm overdue for rewatching this one.

[RCMerchant]

I own it on a double bill dvd with another terrific noir-KANSAS CITY CONFIDENTIAL (1952) which has John Payne,Lee Van Cleef,Jack Elam-and-yup-Neville Brand! Tarintino's RESIVOIR DOGS owes a lot to this film-

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olxdg4AX1Fg" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olxdg4AX1Fg</a>

[Allhallowsday]

Near the beginning, we see Halliday in the San Francisco bar only from the back.  He's wearing a hat, overcoat, and memorable scarf.  This of course is done on purpose because he's wearing the same hat, coat and scarf at the end when the louse gets his.  It does not, however, make any sense.  There is a heatwave and the characters throughout the 24 hours of the story refer to "the heat".   Perhaps Halliday really is cold-blooded. 

[BoyScoutKevin]

Ye-es! Having seen it . . .

It is well done and well worth seeing (IMHO), with one of the best performances by the underrated Edmond O'Brien, but . . .

If you do see it, you might want to see it more than once, or read a synopsis or a review with spoilers, after you see it, as . . .

It is one of the few movies that I have seen, where I am still not sure what happened by the end of it.

[Allhallowsday]

Ye-es! Having seen it . . .
It is well done and well worth seeing (IMHO), with one of the best performances by the underrated Edmond O'Brien, but . . .
If you do see it, you might want to see it more than once, or read a synopsis or a review with spoilers, after you see it, as . . .
It is one of the few movies that I have seen, where I am still not sure what happened by the end of it.

The whole movie is available on YouTube: 

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fMDJ6pwSfo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fMDJ6pwSfo</a>

[major jay]

The relationship between O'Brien and Paula is interesting too.
Holy Crap! They're engaged and he's going off to San Francisco to get some strange.
Nice work if you can get it.

[JaseSF]

Rewatched it again recently and still very much liked it but did find the jazzy score a bit much at times although it does add a great deal to the atmosphere within the Fisherman nightclub. It's interesting in that the lead isn't truly completely likable at the start..in fact he seems to be on the make for other women although he eventually comes to realize the value of what he already has...or had now it's too late. In some ways it feels oddly dated, in others it seems much ahead of its time. The bringing together of several divergent characters and explaining how they all relate to each other is common nowadays but when this was made it seemed less so although the main focus here rarely leaves our lead.