DVD Review: D.O.A. (B+)

DOA (1950)
Directed by Ralph Mate
Starring Edmond O'Brien, Pamela Britton and Beverly Garland
MPAA: UR
Grade: B+

Review by Scott Standish

The 1950 drama DOA is a fast paced thriller with decent acting and a lot of film noir style. Do not confuse this classic film noir with the 1988 remake starring Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan.

A suave accountant with an eye for the ladies, Frank Bigelow is his own man and he likes living life to the fullest. Unfortunately during a business trip to San Francisco he finds out that his life is coming to an end (literally). It seems that someone has poisoned Bigelow by slipping a toxic luminous poison into one of his drinks. The doctors tell him that there is no cure so he truly is a walking dead man (hence the title).

Bigelow quickly turns into a private eye focused on finding out who has poisoned him. The suspects are everywhere: could it have been the girl he was drinking with at the club? The salesman that he partied with at the hotel? Perhaps an old client with a grudge? Bigelow searches San Francisco and Los Angeles tracking down the killer.

Edmond O'Brien does a good job portraying Bigelow, a man who knows his time is up but is set upon getting revenge before he dies. Unfortunately, the rest of the cast is a little uneven, especially the love interests who seem especially flat.

The real star of DOA is without a doubt the brilliant photography by master Director of Photography Ernest Laszlo. Laszlo is an artist with few peer when it comes to lighting and shooting the film noir/German expressionist style. Streaks of light and shadow take center stage and help to heighten tension. Laszlo's gorgeous photography often creates beautiful images that are truly something to behold. By the way, if you like the look of DOA as much as I do, then make sure to check out Kiss Me Deadly, another great noir photographed by Laszlo.

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