D.O.A. (1949): Cast & Plot
D.O.A. is a 1949 crime thriller directed by Rudolph Maté, starring Edmond O'Brien as Frank Bigelow, Pamela Britton and Neville Brand. It runs 1 hour 23 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 23m (83 min)
- Director
- Rudolph Maté
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Cardinal Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is D.O.A. About?
The premise of D.O.A. without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Frank Bigelow, a seasoned accountant, discovers he’s been poisoned and has just 24 hours before the toxin kills him. Determined to uncover his murderer, he teams with his assistant‑girlfriend Paula to retrace his last movements. Their frantic sleuthing exposes a web of crooked businessmen and culminates in another murder, delivering a fast‑paced, noir‑style race against time.
D.O.A. Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- poison
- race against time
- told in flashback
- victim searches for killer
- acronym in title
- punctuation in title
- national film registry
- whodunnit mystery
- murder
- police detective
- swing band
- iridium
+38 more Show fewer
- radioactive material
- los angeles california
- san francisco california
- jazz club
- bullet dodging
- period in title
- title ends with period
- california
- shootout
- terminal illness
- jukebox
- banning california
- st. francis hotel
- party
- market week
- kissing in public
- live band
- reference to guy lombardo
- extreme close up
- second medical opinion
- feeling sick
- medical x ray
- trolley car
- playing trumpet
- luminous toxin
- playing saxophone
- room service
- female singer
- switching drinks
- the fisherman nightclub
- running in the street
- sniper
- woman pulls a gun
- allison hotel
- arm twisted behind back
- hit with a bottle
- shadow
- notary
D.O.A. Cast & Characters
Edmond O'Brien leads the cast as Frank Bigelow, with Pamela Britton as Paula Gibson and Neville Brand as Chester. Directed by Rudolph Maté; 39 actors are credited in all.
- Director Rudolph Maté
-
Edmond O'Brien as Frank Bigelow - Pamela Britton as Paula Gibson
-
Neville Brand as Chester -
Lawrence Dobkin as Dr. Schaefer
Also Starring in D.O.A.
· 35 more- Frank Cady Eddie - Bartender (uncredited)
- Sam Harris Man at Fisherman Table (uncredited)
- Harold Miller Man in Hallway (uncredited)
- Frank Jaquet Dr. Matson
- Roy Engel Police Captain (uncredited)
- Hugh O'Brian Jazz Fan (uncredited)
- Frank Gerstle Dr. MacDonald
- George Lynn Homicide Detective (uncredited)
- Ivan Triesault Photographer (uncredited)
- Peter Leeds Leo - Bartender (uncredited)
- Jerry Paris Bellhop (uncredited)
- Beverly Garland Miss Foster
- Michael Ross Dave
- Douglas Evans Eddie - Salesman on Phone (uncredited)
- Carol Hughes Kitty
- Bill Baldwin St. Francis Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Show all 39 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Luther Adler Majak
- Phillip Pine Angelo (uncredited)
- Lynne Roberts Jane Carlyle (uncredited)
- Jess Kirkpatrick Sam
- William Ching Halliday
- Laurette Luez Marla Rakubian
- Lynn Baggett Mrs. Philips
- Cay Forester Sue
- Teddy Buckner Club Trumpeter (uncredited)
- Virginia Lee Jeanie (uncredited)
- Beverly Warren Girl at Hotel Room Party (uncredited)
- Henry Hart Stanley Philips
- David Jansen Bellhop (uncredited)
- Donna Sanborn Nurse
- Jadie Carson Bandleader (uncredited)
- Shifty Henry Club Bassist (uncredited)
- Ray Laurie Club Pianist (uncredited)
- Van Streeter Club Saxophonist (uncredited)
- Cake Witchard Club Drummer (uncredited)
More from Rudolph Maté
More films directed by Rudolph Maté: Aliki My Love, Seven Seas to Calais, The 300 Spartans and The Barbarians.
D.O.A. Plot Summary
What happens in D.O.A. from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Dexter Cornell, a college professor who once showed real promise, finds himself stumbling into a police station to tell a story that will end up revealing his own supposed murder. The film unfolds as he recounts the previous day and a half, peeling back the layers of a life that has grown mechanical and safe over the years.
Full summary
The whole story of D.O.A., scene by scene
D.O.A. Videos
The clip of D.O.A..
How Well Do You Know D.O.A.?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the protagonist who stumbles into a police station to tell his story?
Cars in D.O.A.
23 cars on screen, including the 1949 Buick Super and the 1947 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible.
-
1949 Buick Super Important role -
1947 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible Important role -
1947 Mack C-45 Important role -
1948 Studebaker Commander Important role
Seen D.O.A.?
Movies Like D.O.A.
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including D.O.A., Color Me Dead and Doomed to Die.
D.O.A. FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of D.O.A., each answered in a sentence.
How long is D.O.A.?
D.O.A. runs 1 hour 23 minutes (83 minutes).
When was D.O.A. released?
D.O.A. was released on December 23, 1949.
Who directed D.O.A.?
D.O.A. was directed by Rudolph Maté.
More films by Rudolph Maté Who is in the cast of D.O.A.?
D.O.A. stars Edmond O'Brien as Frank Bigelow, Pamela Britton as Paula Gibson and Neville Brand as Chester, among 39 credited actors.
Does D.O.A. have a post-credit scene?
No. D.O.A. has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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