CLASSIC MOVIE CORNER: 'D.O.A.' (1950)

Edmond O'Brien in 'D.O.A.'“D.O.A.” (1950)

MPAA Rating: Not rated
Directed by: Rudolph Maté
Starring: Edmond O'Brien, Pamela Britton, Neville Brand, Laurette Luez, Virginia Lee.

The Gist: The clock is ticking as a man scrambles to find his own murderer.

The Story: Frank Bigelow (O’Brien) is an accountant living a sedate life near Palm Springs. His biggest fear is commitment. His girlfriend, Paula (Britton), is ready to take their relationship to the next level. But, Bigelow needs a little space. He takes a solo vacation in San Francisco, where he meets Jeanie (Lee), a sultry beauty, at a smoky jazz club. The morning after, Frank awakens with a doozy of a hangover. It’s so bad, he visits the doctor, who gives him the shock of his life. Frank’s been poisoned and might die in just 24 hours. There is no antidote. He’ll spend the remainder of his short life trying to discover who killed him and why.

The Review: “D.O.A” is a frantically paced film noir with a sweet gimmick — one that’s been recycled often since (“Crank,” “88 Minutes”) and continues to thrill. Before the likes of James Dean and Marlon Brando introduced a more introspective mode of acting, the type of melodrama present in “D.O.A.” was the norm. Emotions were played large and loud. If you can get past that, you’ll enjoy this wild roller coaster. Frank has no time to spare before his body gives out, and O’Brien channels his ever-increasing desperation. Stunning set pieces include shootouts and foot chases in real San Francisco and L.A. locations. Cinematographer-turned-director Rudolph Maté serves up one dark and beautiful image after another.

The Classic Quote: Chester (Brand): “That's the way I wanna see you go, Bigelow. Nice and slow.”

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)