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Detective Story is a 1951 American crime drama directed by William Wyler and starring Kirk Douglas that tells the story of one day in the lives of the various people who populate a police detective squad. The ensemble supporting cast features Eleanor Parker, William Bendix, Cathy O'Donnell, and George Macready. Both Lee Grant and Joseph Wiseman play large roles in their film debuts. The film was adapted by Robert Wyler and Philip Yordan from the 1949 play of the same name by Sidney Kingsley. It was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Academy Award for Best Director for Wyler, Best Actress for Parker, and Best Supporting Actress for Grant.
An angry New York detective is one of a precinct of cops in a grim daily battle with the city's lowlife. Little does he realize that his obsessive pursuit of an "abortionist" is leading him to a discovery closer to home. The characters who pass through the precinct over the course of the day include a young petty embezzler, a pair of burglars, and a naive shoplifter.
Concurrently, several other cases are being processed in the bullpen. The detectives have arrested burglar Charley Gennini (Joseph Wiseman), who is revealed to be a psychopath with an extensive criminal record including murder and rape. McLeod also books a young man named Arthur Kindred (Craig Hill), who has admitted stealing money from his employer to try to impress the girl he loves. Although the employer is sympathetic and wants to drop charges after he is repaid, McLeod refuses to release the remorseful Kindred, saying that leniency only leads to more crime. Despite evidence of Kindred's kind nature, McLeod is unwilling to distinguish between a first time offender like Kindred and a dangerous repeat offender like Gennini.
The stricken Mary admits to her husband that years ago she had become pregnant by Giacoppetti. McLeod, who had been worried about her apparent infertility, cannot stomach the thought that it was caused by her abortion by Schneider, especially when Sims hints that there may have been more lovers. After McLeod accuses her of infidelity, Mary tells him he is cruel like his father was and leaves him. Suddenly, Gennini takes advantage of a distraction to steal an officer's revolver, and he fatally shoots McLeod before being disarmed. Dying, McLeod instructs his partner to release Kindred and to tell his wife he begs her forgiveness. The local paper praises McLeod for dying "in the line of duty".
Tying most of these events together is the presence of the "Shoplifter", who is ignored by the police as they do their jobs. Lee Grant, in her film debut, was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
During production, the film had some trouble with the Production Code Authority. Plotlines involving the killing of police officers or references to abortion were not permitted by Production Code. Joseph Breen suggested that explicit references to abortion would be altered to "baby farming". However, when the film was released, film critics still interpreted Dr. Schneider as an illicit abortionist. Breen and William Wyler suggested to the MPAA Production Code Committee that the code be amended to allow the killing of police officers if it was absolutely necessary for the plot. They agreed, and the code was amended, lifting the previous ban on cop-killing. Another noteworthy factor regarding the passing of this film is that, at the time that this film was made, the Production Code Administration's primary concern about cop killing was in regards to "Gangster" films, in that there is conflict between the criminal and the police officer. The killing was not premeditated, which again, helped allow the Production Code Administration to pass the film.[5]
Joseph Wiseman later played the titular role in Dr. No (1962), the first James Bond film starring Sean Connery. Gerald Mohr portrayed Doc Holliday in the television series Maverick in the 1957 episode titled "The Quick and the Dead" starring James Garner and Marie Windsor.
In a DVD review of the film, technology critic Gary W. Tooze, wrote, "Absolutely stunning image. One of the best I have seen for a black and white film this year. Superb sharpness, shadow details and contrast. Standard Paramount bare bones release with no extras and a price tag for the frugal minded. The image and price make it a must own for Noir fans and everyone else too. Wyler direction sends the film to upper tier to join the DVD."[10]
Tells the story of one day in the lives of the various people who populate a police detective squad. An embittered cop, Det. Jim McLeod, leads a precinct of characters in their grim daily battle with the city's lowlife. The characters who pass through the precinct over the course of the day include a young petty embezzler, a pair of burglars, and a naive shoplifter.
Greek tragedy at the 21st Precinct. All the classical unities of time and location are observed. We have a son inheriting the sins of his father, fate, vengeance, catharsis, pity and fear. We have Kirk Douglas emoting enough for the patrons on the back row feel him.
The women in Detective Story have empathy and forgiveness in their hearts, while Detective Jim McCleod (Kirk Douglass) is driven by anger and jealousy. Lee Grant, in a film debut that earned her an Oscar nomination, is excellent. She plays a mousy young lady stuck in a police station for stealing a six dollar purse. She seems more concerned with politeness than the ultimate punishment for her petty thievery.
Oh dear. This was possibly an easy 4 and a half stars until that final, totally overcooked scene with all its religious guff (to use the burglar's word). As Douglas cried out "Mary!" I had had enough.
It does have a great cast, though, and the bulk of the film is excellent, a fast paced look at the goings-on of a police precinct. I really wouldn't class this as noir although I came at it through the noir lists. It's more of a procedural drama. Shame they ruined it in the last 4 minutes.
Kirk Douglas plays James McLeod, a detective with an off putting harshness and inability to compromise in the face of crime. When we meet McLeod he is hot on the trail of Karl Schneider (George Macready), a doctor who has been performing abortions.
It doesn't matter a jot that this is a filmed play, barely opened up from its stage origins and almost entirely confined to the station of a New York police precinct, not when you have performances of the intensity of Kirk Douglas and direction of the calibre of William Wyler.
Interesting film, this one. Kirk Douglas plays MacCloud, a rather jaded and vindictive cop who has been trying to nail a doctor who has been murdering patients by botching their abortions. Strong stuff for the 1950s.
It's a psychological drama which starts in a light-hearted vein as a handbag thief gets caught and brought to the police station to await night court: she watches along with us as low-lifes, first offenders, and gin-soaked deadbeats come into the station to face charges, to do identity parades, or to try and sort out problems for old friends.
Quelling an uprising of 70 hobos who appropriated a freight train was the job on which eh had most fun, Woolverton remembers. The hobos took over the freight some distance from El Paso and were bringing it into town when they were met by 20 or 25 policemen and stopped by a road block.
The incident occurred in 1932, when Woolverton was with the detective division. The fugitive had been tracked through the co-operative efforts of Montana and El Paso peace officers, to a local hotel, which he had listed as his El Paso address.
Local officers kept an eye for several days on the hotel, Woolverton said. When the wanted man finally called the hotel to see if he had any mail, there was no one available to make the arrest besides Woolverton.
Woolverton is a native of Anderson County, Texas, and was reared in Uvalde. He attended school in Del Rio, after taking a business course in San Angelo. He came to El Paso in 1907 to work for his brother, who ran a local grocery store.
He first started to work for the city in the Fire Department and served as captain of East El Paso Fire station. With the Police Department he was first drive of the patrol wagon, late serving as jailer and sergeant of police. In 1929 he became captain and was in charge of the detective division for nearly 20 years.
Patrolman Brown then asked the suspect to remove the covering from his face, the man suddenly produced a gun and opened fire, striking Patrolman Brown four times. Patrolman Brown was able to fire one round as he fell. He then crawled to his patrol car and called for assistance before succumbing to his wounds.
The suspect and his accomplice, both 18, fled the store but both were eventually apprehended. On January 11, 1975, the gunman was sentenced to life in prison. He has a parole hearing on February 1, 2024. His accomplice was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and robbery, and sentenced to two consecutive 7 to 25 year prison terms.
Patrolman Bozeman was killed during an air raid practice drill when an air raid bomb prematurely exploded in his face. Seven others were injured, one critically. Bozeman's End of Watch Date was December 10th, 1951.
Detective Hefner was shot and killed when he and another detective responded to a domestic disturbance in which the male subject was armed with a revolver. When the detectives confronted the man he attempted to shoot the other detective and a struggle ensued. The man and the officers fell into the kitchen and the suspect's revolver discharged. The round struck Detective Hefner in the throat. The other detective continued to struggle with the suspect and the weapon was fired again. The second round struck the suspect and instantly killed him.
Detective Hefner had served with the Lima Police Department for 9 years and is the youngest officer to have died in the line of duty. He was survived by his wife, parents, and brothers. Hefner's incident date is listed as February 1st, 1951 and his End Of Watch date was February 27th, 1951.
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