About the Show
Step into the shadows of classic crime cinema at SleuthFest with a special screening of the original D.O.A., one of film noir’s most unforgettable journeys into fate, mystery, and moral ambiguity. Directed by Rudolph Maté and starring Edmond O’Brien in a career-defining performance, D.O.A. is a taut, 84-minute “B-thriller of vibrating pace that unites various elements of fatalism, cynicism, and corruption with a noir vision of America from the time.”
The film opens with an astonishing hook: Frank Bigelow walks into a police station and reports his own murder. From there, D.O.A. unfolds in gripping flashback as Bigelow, a mild-mannered accountant, discovers he’s been fatally poisoned by a mysterious toxin with no known antidote. With only days to live, he embarks on a relentless hunt across San Francisco and Los Angeles for answers: who wanted him dead, and why?
Perfectly blending noir atmosphere with a high-stakes race against time, D.O.A. is rich with shadowy streets, enigmatic characters, and moral complexity. Its ingenious plot and stark black-and-white cinematography exemplify the genre at its best – a tale of betrayal, desperation, and the haunting truth that sometimes the only way to uncover the dark secrets of others is to confront your own inevitable end.
Whether you’re a devoted fan of classic noir or discovering D.O.A. for the first time, this screening promises a riveting cinematic experience – a masterclass in tension, style, and storytelling.
Join us at SleuthFest as we celebrate this landmark of mystery cinema and follow Bigelow’s unforgettable final investigation.
Learn More at sleuthfestla.com
