Over the last couple days I watched two movies that I've seen quite a few times over the years, although not for a while. First off, Rudolph Mate's 1950 D.O.A.. As should be very well-documented by now, I love film noir (as all right-thinking individuals do). The film never makes my short list of greatest films noir, but it's still a must see, obviously. There are things that annoy me about the film, mainly the portrayal of Paula (Pamela Britton), Frank Bigelow's (Edmond O-Brien) girlfriend, although that's more a critique of 1950s America and not her performance, which is fine. Rudolph Mate includes this odd trick early in the film where every time that Frank sees a woman there's this annoying whistle sound, almost as if he was immediately and uncontrollably attracted to the woman, but then changed his mind (it's almost like a measurement of erectile functionality, which I'm sure was not their intent in 1950, but I think that every time I hear it). Once the film hits its stride it's a thrill ride all the way to the finish. Obviously, everyone knows the story: Frank Bigelow, for no particular good reason, is poisoned, and spends his last couple days on earth trying to solve his murder. It's been remade a few times, and I think I should check them out; the Criterion Channel is pairing it with the 1988 Dennis Quaid remake right now, so I guess I'll start there. Recommended.
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