Silly Ass-assin

"I want you to kill me," he said
Too jaunty to will to be dead,
Faking murder he's planned
But some bird's unseen hand
Nonchalantly has filled him with lead.

David Cairns

Glenn Anders makes an unusual request in Lady From Shanghai (Orson Welles; 1947).

Past His Deadtime

Unsteady, not thriving, he dragged
Steps leaden, alive, but half-fagged
The toxin was glowing
The clock ticks, keeps going
Till 'Dead On Arrival' he's tagged.


Edmond O'Brien races against time in D.O.A. (Rudolph Maté; 1950).

The Right Snuff

He's tough, but it's late, and he's tired
And suffers a fate undesired
A ragged farewell
The tagline from hell
Enough with the wait, he's expired.


Edmond O'Brien is stamped D.O.A. (Rudolph Maté; 1950).

Slow-acting Masterclass

Ed O'Brien is chasing round town
The guy has a case to run down
While a poison acts slowly
Destroying him wholly
That's why Ed's fat face wears a frown.

David Cairns


Edmond O'Brien staggers through D.O.A. (Rudolph Maté; 1950).

The Fatal Glass of Fear

A sentence of death is announced
Like a zen shibboleth, mispronounced
The poison he's supped
Will annoy, then corrupt
He's spent, his last breath gets him bounced.

David Cairns

Edmond O'Brien learns of his imminent demise in D.O.A. (Rudolph Maté; 1950).

Unhappy Hour

In his highball a mickey was slipped
But why was he picked for the crypt?
So he sped around town
Then dropped dead, and fell down
Poor guy! Dirty trick got him R.I.P.ped.

Edmond O'Brien downs a spiked drink in D.O.A. (Rudolph Maté; 1950).

Hurry Rundown

Hungover? That booze had a kick
Laid low, not just woozy, but sick
For your killer you search
Willy nilly, you lurch
There's no time to lose--tick...tick...tick...

 Before he dies, Edmond O'Brien must find out who "murdered" him in D.O.A. (Rudolph Maté; 1950).

Ed On Arrival

The drug he's been given will kill him
He's buggered, won't live, it'll chill him
Can he catch his own killer
In this patchy noir thriller?
This struggle makes riveting fillum.

David Cairns


Edmond O'Brien stars in D.O.A. (Rudolph Maté; 1950), film noir that ends with a bang.