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Kirk Douglas, Eleanor Parker, William Bendix, Lee Grant, George Macready ... see more see more... , Cathy O'Donnell , Bert Freed , Joseph Wiseman , Frank Faylen , Grandon Rhodes , Luis Van Rooten , Craig Hill , Horace McMahon , Warner Anderson , Michael Strong , Russ Evans , Gladys George , Burt Mustin , James Maloney , Gerald Mohr , Edmund Cobb , Ann Codee , Catherine Doucet , Pat Flaherty , Donald Kerr , Mike Mahoney , Lee Miller , Ralph Montgomery , William 'Bill' Phillips , Jack Shea , Harper Goff , Howard Joslin , Charles Campbell , Bob Scott , Kay Wiley

Sidney Kingsley's Broadway play Detective Story was praised for its realistic view of an event-filled day in a single police precinct station. The film, directed by meticulous taskmaster William Wyler... read more read more..., manages to retain this realism, even allowing for the star-turn performance of Kirk Douglas. A stickler for the letter of the law, Detective James McLeod (Douglas) is not averse to using strong-arm methods on criminals and witnesses alike in bringing lawbreakers to justice. He is particularly rough on a first-time offender (Craig Hill), on whom the rest of the force is willing to go easy because of the anguish of his girlfriend (Cathy O'Donnell). But McLeod's strongest invective is reserved for shady abortion doctor Karl Schneider (George MacReady); McLeod all but ruins the case against Schneider by beating him up in the patrol wagon. When McLeod discovers that his own wife (Eleanor Parker) had many years earlier lost a baby in one of Schneider's operations, and that the baby's father was gangster Tami Giacoppetti (Gerald Mohr), it is too much for the detective to bear. Punctuating the grim proceedings with brief moments of humor is future Oscar winner Lee Grant, reprising her stage role as a timorous shoplifter; it would be her last Hollywood assignment until the early 1960s, thanks to the iniquities of the blacklist. Despite small concessions to Hollywood censorship, Detective Story largely upheld the power of its theatrical original, and it forms a clear precursor to such latter-day urban police dramas as NYPD Blue. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

72% liked it

1,075 ratings

Critics

67% liked it

9 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 43 min.

Directed by: William Wyler

Release Date: November 1, 1951

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DVD Release Date: October 25, 2005

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Stats: 81 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (81)

  • ajv2688
    October 29, 2010
    ajv2688
    My second favourite Kirk Douglas movie. He plays a detective perfectly, the dialogue is great, the rest of the cast is great, the story is exciting, and it all takes place in one day. One of my favourite movies.
  • ythelastman89
    July 22, 2010
    ythelastman89
    Truly a performance based movie that really shouldn't be treated as anything else. While it lacks powerful direction and style, I don't think there was ever any intent to have either of those. You stay involved for the larger than life performance from Kirk Douglas as the most bl... read moreack and white cop to ever roam the streets of New York. You can clearly see this is better suited as a play and didn't necessarily need to make the jump to screen, but I'm pleased anyway.
  • jjnxn
    July 24, 2008
    jjnxn
    Good solid film, somewhat dated. Eleanor Parker gives a lovely, delicate performance.
  • HenrikSchunk
    October 29, 2009
    HenrikSchunk
    A very good "chamber" movie, with the setting being limited to a small locale (a police station) this case, the movie evolves around the dense relationships and small events turning into big one in the blink of an eye. The movie boasts an golden era cast, with a brisk Kirk Dougla... read mores in the lead. Yet, the movie comes alive through the smaller roles which are effectively casted as well, Joseph Wiseman (deceased only recently) shows off his lunatic repertoire while Cathy O' Donnell walks a fine line as slighlty disturbed woman under the influence. The movie tackles a very critical topic, considering it is an American (!) move from the 50ies (!), two thumbs up. With isses so un-canonical and an ending so unexpected, the movie stands apart from the usual Hollywood porridge of mediocricy and you by the time the film has finished, you can tell that it is based on play. The ambiguity of characters, the multidude of stories and the non-sensationalist ending feel fresh and entertaining.

    Good one,
    Henrik
  • poohtiger
    January 18, 2007
    poohtiger
    One day in a New York City police precinct where all kinds of people intersect. Kirk Douglas is the tough detective who is dealing with a case involving an abortionist. It also has a shoplifter, two dangerous burglars, and an embezzler. A taut in your face crime drama that featu... read moreres a strong performance by Mr. Douglas and another good one by Eleanor Parker who plays his wife. One of the best of the detective movies from the 1950's.

    Detective McLeod: "Take a couple of drop dead pills".
  • addienoir
    August 5, 2011
    addienoir
    My favorite movie since I was 8 years old. I am not sure what that says about me, but, good or bad, it says something. lol

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
July 1, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Though not one of Wyler's best films (it's still a play), the drama is well acted by Kirk Douglas as the tormented and obsessive cop and Lee Grant as a juvenile delinquent. Full Review

Pablo Villaca
April 6, 2006
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena

Wyler não consegue escapar da origem teatral do texto, mas imprime energia ao filme, que também é beneficiado por uma atuação estupenda de Douglas e por ótimas performances de Bendix, Parker e Grant (...

Christopher Null
October 23, 2005
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

the film's histrionics haven't aged perfectly Full Review

Michael Szymanski
October 15, 2005
Michael Szymanski, Hollywood.com

A classic film by William Wyler with memorable roles...

Michael E. Grost
August 13, 2005
Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television

Depressing

Dennis Schwartz
October 25, 2004
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Overwrought morality play. Full Review

Nick Davis
August 17, 2003
Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks

William Bendix is the best reason to see this yarn, a diverting story that never makes an impression proportionate to the talent of its cast and crew.

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Bosley Crowther
May 20, 2003
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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