Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > Detective Story (1951)
Detective Story
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Detective Story (1951) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 8 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
7.7/10   1,755 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 3% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
William Wyler
Writers:
Sidney Kingsley (play)
Robert Wyler (writer)
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Detective Story on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
November 1951 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Drama | Film-Noir more
Tagline:
The love story of a man whose wife was more woman than angel!
Plot:
On one day in the 21st Precinct squad room, assorted characters form a backdrop for the troubles of hard-nosed Detective Jim McLeod. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 7 nominations more
User Comments:
Powerful Kirk Douglas Performance in NYC Precinct Drama more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Kirk Douglas ... Det. James 'Jim' McLeod
Eleanor Parker ... Mary McLeod
William Bendix ... Det. Lou Brody
Cathy O'Donnell ... Susan Carmichael
George Macready ... Karl Schneider
Horace McMahon ... Lt. Monaghan
Gladys George ... Miss Hatch
Joseph Wiseman ... Charley Gennini
Lee Grant ... Shoplifter

Gerald Mohr ... Tami Giacoppetti

Frank Faylen ... Det. Gallagher
Craig Hill ... Arthur Kindred
Michael Strong ... Lewis Abbott
Luis Van Rooten ... Joe Feinson
Bert Freed ... Det. Dakis
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Detective Story (Australia) (TV title)
more
Runtime:
103 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Certification:
UK:12 (re-rating) (2005) | UK:X (original rating) | Norway:16 (1952) | USA:TV-PG | Australia:PG | West Germany:16 (f) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #15300)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Horace McMahon, Joseph Wiseman, Michael Strong and Lee Grant re-enacted their stage roles. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: In some of the close-up shots of McLeod and Schneider in the back of the paddy wagon, McLeod's shadow can be faintly seen on the rear-projection screen showing the street behind them. (Other shadows can also be seen.) more
Quotes:
Detective James McLeod: At an autopsy the other day I watched the medical examiner saw off the top of a man's skull, take out the brain and hold it in his hand.
[holds out his hand]
Detective James McLeod: Like that.
Mary McLeod: Why are you telling me this?
Detective James McLeod: Because I'd give my soul to take out my brain, hold it under the faucet and wash away the dirty pictures you put there tonight.
Mary McLeod: Dirty pictures?
Detective James McLeod: Yes!
Mary McLeod: Oh, I see. I see. Yes, that would be fine... if we could. But when you wash away what I may have put there, you'll find you've a rotten spot in your brain, Jim. And it's growing. I know, I've watched it.
more
Movie Connections:
References The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
7 out of 9 people found the following comment useful:-
Powerful Kirk Douglas Performance in NYC Precinct Drama, 24 August 2006
8/10
Author: dglink from Alexandria, VA

Adapted from a stage play by Sidney Kingsley, "Detective Story" depicts a day at a New York police precinct in the early 1950's. The film resembles a feature-length episode of "Barney Miller" without the jokes as the detectives bring various shoplifters, petty thieves, and embezzlers into the station for booking. However, the film does not lack humor as a broad hammy performance by Joseph Wiseman and an only slightly subtler take on a Brooklynese shoplifter by Lee Grant lighten up the often heavily dramatic proceedings.

The central character, Detective Jim McLeod, is an unforgiving, by-the-book veteran, who sees the world in black and white, good versus evil, with no shades of gray in between. Kirk Douglas brings McLeod to life in one of his finest, most powerful performances. Douglas's Oscar-caliber work is matched by a fragile, deeply felt performance by Eleanor Parker as McLeod's wife, who harbors a secret from her past that, unknown to either McLeod or his wife, connects back to an on-going police case. The scenes between Douglas and Parker are among the best in the film.

Veteran director William Wyler retains most of the play's action in the central precinct room and only occasionally breaks from the claustrophobic set for a breather. Lee Garmes photographed "Detective Story" in crisp black and white, and some of the shots of New York City could be framed and hung on a wall. With a cast of top character players that includes Gladys George, William Bendix, Frank Faylen, and George Macready, the multi-character, multi-plotted "Detective Story" is a powerful, well-acted film that somehow is less often seen than its quality warrants.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Detective Story (1951)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Great acting by Joseph Wiseman richsass
Notes on DETECTIVE STORY JSlack3
What's the Actor's Name? InsanityLovesCompany
Mary should have run off with Tammy!!! HoferPM-1
music under the opening credits petershelleyau
Barney Miller denmoab
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Call Northside 777 Where the Sidewalk Ends Midnight Court Cry of the City The Crime Nobody Saw
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Crime section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.