D.O.A.



"Frank Bigelow: I'd like to report a murder. Captain: Sit down. Where was this murder committed? Frank Bigelow: San Francisco, last night. Captain: Who was murdered? Frank Bigelow: I was."

D.O.A., or Dead On Arrival, is a 1950 Film Noir drama about a man named Frank Bigelow, who must frantically try to find out who wants him dead through poisoning- and why. The plot speeds as Frank recounts his past events to the police to get help.

D.O.A. was added to the National Film Registry in 2004.

A remake starring Dennis Quaid was released in 1988.

If you're looking for the fighting game, see Dead or Alive.


 * Ax Crazy: Chester enjoys hurting people. He especially relishes the gutshot, since it kills people nice...and slow.
 * Chained Heat: In the remake only.
 * Dead Man Walking: The Ur Example.
 * Downer Ending
 * Endless Corridor: In the innovative opening sequence.
 * Enforced Method Acting: That long sequence where Frank is running through the streets? None of that was planned. They just sat the camera on the back of a car and had the actor run through the streets. Those times where he nearly gets hit by a car and a bus, the actor really could have been hit by a car or a bus.
 * Film Noir: One of the Trope Codifiers.
 * Follow the Leader: Chester, like many killers in the Film Noir era, was inspired by Tommy Udo from Kiss of Death.
 * Gayngster: Majak, possibly. The way he says "please, my boy", while smoothing over Chester's hair...
 * Giggling Villain: Chester.
 * Perfect Poison
 * The Reveal
 * San Francisco
 * Shown Their Work: In the credits--before the actors' names are listed--a title card informs us that the poison described is totally a real thing (most likely phosphorus), and that "luminous poison" is an actual medical term.
 * Slasher Smile: Chester.
 * Soundtrack Dissonance: This film has a surprisingly lighthearted score (relatively). Certainly more so than any other film noir.
 * Standard Female Grab Area: Used by Bigelow to great effect while interrogating Phillips' secretary.
 * Title Drop: "Mark his file... as DOA."
 * White Collar Worker: Frank was an accountant.
 * Who Dunnit to Me?: Pretty much the Trope Codifier.
 * Your Hours Are Numbered