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. Download the movie here.

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