|
|
Post by Aj_June on Apr 11, 2017 12:46:15 GMT
You usually don't expect a film noir to have an unattractive looking male lead like Edmond O'Brien but that is what makes this movie even better. It's a low budget movie that you can feel right from the start but the uniqueness of plot is what makes this film so different. Terms like 'luminescent poisoning' (based on a radioactive isotope of iridium) may sound a bit funny but the movie is so well paced that you ignore such things. Overall, the dialogues are quite good with the introductory lines being nothing short of classic. The best part of the movie is the hero running frantically on pavements with no idea about his destination. The other elements that make this one a good watch are realistic portrayal of night clubs and presence of a sadistic killer (though not main villain). 8/10 as far as I am concerned.
|
|
|
|
Post by mattgarth on Apr 11, 2017 12:56:22 GMT
My Favorite Noir, with the best Noir protagonist. O'Brien's 'Frank Bigelow' is a genial, slightly overweight CPA who becomes a tough, wisecracking, two-fisted avenging detective who could rival Philip Marlowe. Except no private eye tale ever had such a bleak conclusion.
|
|
|
|
Post by london777 on Apr 11, 2017 13:20:26 GMT
Terms like 'luminescent poisoning' (based on a radioactive isotope of iridium) may sound a bit funny ... In 1950 there was no public understanding of radio-activity. It was considered to have infinite properties, both good and bad. And Government paranoia did not help. Kiss Me Deadly (1955) is an even better example of a great noir based on shaky science which exemplifies the McCarthy era. D.O.A. (1950) is a good movie. Avoid the lame loose remake (1988). We males are not the best judges of "attractive" men. I am sure millions of female film-goers would have found Edmond O'Brien "hot", or at least good husband material. |
|
|
|
Post by BATouttaheck on Apr 11, 2017 13:41:05 GMT
Aj_June"unattractive looking male lead" like Edmond O'Brien Seems a bit harsh. Rugged. Ordinary. Man-on-the-streets look. No Rock Hudson or Tyrone Power but actually "unattractive ? Many of the noirs, when you think about it, had non "MOVIE STAR LOOK" male leads. Bogey, anyone ?
|
|
|
|
Post by teleadm on Apr 11, 2017 18:52:16 GMT
Edmond O'Brien was absolutly fantastic as the "little man/common man" one can/coul'd see in any bar sipping a drink and minding his own bussiness, in this case he's an accountant "but I'm just an anccountant". And you can really feel the panic in him growing as the movie goes along.
I gave D.O.A. 1950 8/10 on old Imdb, because I think it's a solid little noir.
Edmond O'Brien in his early career played a few "young handsome" roles, for example The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1939, but he quickly put on weight and became a solid character actor instead for nearly the rest of his whole career, up until Alzheimer's caught up with him. He was actually the good guy in White Heat 1949.
There seems to have been av few other remakes/variations other than the 1988 version, Color Me Dead 1969 in Australia by Eddie Davis with Tom Tryon (in his last movie), Carolyn Jones and Rick Jason. Crank 2006 by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor with Jason Stratham (I've never thought about that connection myself). David Paymer played the role in 1991 in an episode of Jake and the Fatman 1991 called I'm Gonna Live Till I Die, at least I thought that it was the same story, because I had seen D.O.A. 1950 of few weeks earlier.
|
|
|
|
Post by mattgarth on Apr 11, 2017 18:55:21 GMT
O'Brien still looked reasonably slim and good looking four years earlier in THE KILLERS -- and played the good guy there ... an insurance agent who literally risks his life for the company (who at the end gives him the weekend off).
|
|
|
|
Post by fangirl1975 on Apr 11, 2017 21:01:57 GMT
D.O.A. is a great noir. I've seen it several times.
|
|
|
|
Post by outrider127 on Apr 11, 2017 21:13:24 GMT
You usually don't expect a film noir to have an unattractive looking male lead like Edmond O'Brien but that is what makes this movie even better. It's a low budget movie that you can feel right from the start but the uniqueness of plot is what makes this film so different. Terms like 'luminescent poisoning' (based on a radioactive isotope of iridium) may sound a bit funny but the movie is so well paced that you ignore such things. Overall, the dialogues are quite good with the introductory lines being nothing short of classic. The best part of the movie is the hero running frantically on pavements with no idea about his destination. The other elements that make this one a good watch are realistic portrayal of night clubs and presence of a sadistic killer (though not main villain). 8/10 as far as I am concerned. Agree good movie |
|
|
|
Post by Aj_June on Apr 12, 2017 12:01:39 GMT
Aj_June "unattractive looking male lead" like Edmond O'Brien Seems a bit harsh. Rugged. Ordinary. Man-on-the-streets look. No Rock Hudson or Tyrone Power but actually "unattractive ? Many of the noirs, when you think about it, had non "MOVIE STAR LOOK" male leads. Bogey, anyone ? Sorry but no disrespect was intended by me. What I meant to say was that his look was not like what you generally see in a lead hero. Bogart had that charisma and he was never fat. O'Brien had turned fat by 50s. But as I said, his look and personality being that of a common man made the movie even better and realistic. |
|
|
|
Post by Aj_June on Apr 12, 2017 12:08:44 GMT
Terms like 'luminescent poisoning' (based on a radioactive isotope of iridium) may sound a bit funny ... In 1950 there was no public understanding of radio-activity. It was considered to have infinite properties, both good and bad. And Government paranoia did not help. Kiss Me Deadly (1955) is an even better example of a great noir based on shaky science which exemplifies the McCarthy era. D.O.A. (1950) is a good movie. Avoid the lame loose remake (1988). We males are not the best judges of "attractive" men. I am sure millions of female film-goers would have found Edmond O'Brien "hot", or at least good husband material. True. Women may find his type of look quite appealing. I should probably have used common man look to describe him. D.O.A seemed to present a very realistic portrayal of nightclubs of 50s. I especially liked the tense atmosphere where everyone was kind of sweaty and there was a general chaos. It would surely rank among my top low budget noir. Agree about Kiss Me Deadly too.  |
|
|
|
Post by BATouttaheck on Apr 12, 2017 13:07:21 GMT
Aj_June "I should probably have used common man look to describe him." Vigorous nod of agreement on that from Bat. I have always liked O'Brien. White Heat being another fantastically good role for him.
|
|
