The title “D.O.A.” has focused on several notable films, which tell a story of crime, mystery or thriller drama. Let us examine some of the two most renowned D.O.A. films:
1. D.O.A. (1950)
- Director: Rudolph Maté
- Starring: Edmond O’Brien, Pamela Britton
- Genre: Film Noir / Thriller Plot: This original D.O.A. film is a classic and true representative of the noir films and the extremely unique ‘race against time’ way of telling a story. The events center on Frank Bigelow, played by Edmond O’Brien, a young accountant who learns he has been given a deadly dose of poison that will kill him in a few days. Time is running out and Bigelow is on a frantic race to seek the person behind his murder and gather the reasons behind it, taking on an incredibly complex and horrible tapestry of deceit, treachery and crime.
Reception: D.O.A. (1950) M. J. Sistren redefining storytelling through single-handedly solving the mystery of his own homicide. The film has always been considered a ‘guilty favourite’ owing to its gripping cinematography often credited as one of the film’s most atmospheric components. Received great admiration, D.O.A was responsible for influencing thriller genres following her which is something that has excited the audience since.
**Legacy:** The film is explicitly classified as public domain which allows users to stream the movie as many times as possible, referencing it to be a true representation of noir. In its aftermaths many adaptations and retellings came into existence starting from 1988’s remake in which time the movie gained popularity. 2. D.O.A. (1988)
- Directors: Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton
- Starring: Dennis Quaid, Meg Ryan, Charlotte Rampling
- Genre: Thriller / Mystery Plot: In this update of the classic film from the late 1950s, Professor Dexter Cornel (played by Dennis Quaid), during the course of his academic life comes to consciousness and realises that he finds himself wreaked with a lethal substance and for the next 24 hours finds himself fighting the urge to get lucid. The dramatic irony that occurs creates a foreboding atmosphere in which protagonist thinks he knows the entire plot only to be grasped by shock after shock. Drexler is searching for his perpetrator, but the enigmatic student played by Meg Ryan who he never seemed to get along with, proves to be more than just a nuisance.
Reception: The 1988 D.O.A. is considered an improvement over the previous versions with its good pacing, stylish camera work and chemistry between Quaid and Ryan despite the fact that it is not entirely faithful to its original. The noir concept of the remake was adapted to a modern, lively perspective that would attract modern viewers.
Legacy: This version contributed to the popularity of the “race against time” motif, which was employed by late 20th century thrillers, enhancing the genre in which high-stakes mysteries are a mainstay.
Common Themes and Influence
Both versions of D.O.A. are noted for their fresh structure and great tension, whose leads are placed in extraordinary situations and include themes of death, revenge and desperation. They have influenced a number of thrillers and crime dramas that employ the ticking-clock device for dramatic purposes.
If the very notion of black-and-white films with elements of noir or thrillers with a profound and pessimistic sense is appealing to you, then you must see both films D.O.A., filmed in different eras and thus giving different cinematic experiences.