History Film / DetectiveStory

%%* PerpAndWeapon: The final scene. Not exactly played straight as it leads to [[spoiler: the death of the hero.]]

* CuffsOffRubWrists: Arthur does this after getting his handcuffs removed.

''Detective Story'' is a 1951 FilmNoir drama directed by Creator/WilliamWyler and starring Creator/KirkDouglas. It tells the story of one day in the lives of the various people who populate a police detective squad incorporating heavy elements of PoliceProcedural. The story is based on the 1949 play of the same name written by Sidney Kingsley, where Douglas's role was originated by Creator/RalphBellamy.

''Detective Story'' is a 1951 FilmNoir drama directed by Creator/WilliamWyler and starring Creator/KirkDouglas. It tells the story of one day in the lives of the various people who populate a police detective squad incorporating heavy elements of PoliceProcedural. The story is based on the 1949 play of the same name written by Sidney Kingsley.

Film debut of Creator/LeeGrant, who briefly appears as a shoplifter.

In the [[UsefulNotes/NewYorkCityCops NYPD]]'s 21st Precinct, various criminals are booked after being arrested: a shoplifter is brought in after stealing a purse from a department store; a pair of burglars with extensive criminal records are captured by a policeman; the small-time embezzler Arthur Kindred is booked without any resistance. The tough Det. Jim [=McLeod=] (Douglas) is an honest cop with strong principles and a code of honor, who loves his wife Mary (Creator/EleanorParker). [=McLeod=] is near to concluding a case against an abortionist, Dr. Karl Schneider (George Macready), with the testimony of the man's former assistant. However, the woman is bribed and the upset [=McLeod=] hits Schneider, who insinuates to [=McLeod=]'s chief, Lt. Monaghan (Horace [=McMahon=]), that the problem is personal and gives the name of Mary [=McLeod=]. Monaghan invites Mary to come to the precinct for the investigation, and soon deep inner secrets are disclosed, leading to a tragedy.

[[quoteright:315:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/detective_story_1951.jpeg]]

[[quoteright:310:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/detective_story_1951.jpeg]]

In the [[UsefulNotes/NewYorkCityCops NYPD]]'s 21st Precinct, criminals are booked after being arrested: a shoplifter is brought after stealing a purse in a department store; two burglars with extensive criminal records are captured by a policeman; the small-time embezzler Arthur Kindred, who is primary and without any resistance. The tough Detective Jim [=McLeod=] (Douglas) is an honest detective with strong principles and a code of honor, who loves his wife Mary (Creator/EleanorParker). He is near to conclude a case against an abortionist, Dr. Karl Schneider (George Macready), with the testimony of a witness who's coming to testify against the physician. However, the woman is bribed and the upset [=McLeod=] hits Schneider, who insinuates to [=McLeod=]'s chief, Lt. Monaghan (Horace [=McMahon=]), that the problem is personal and gives the name of Mary [=McLeod=]. Monaghan invites Mary to come to the precinct for the investigation when deep inner secrets are disclosed, leading to a tragedy.

In the [[UsefulNotes/NewYorkCityCops NYPD]]'s 21st Precinct, criminals are booked after being arrested: a shoplifter is brought after stealing a purse in a department store; two burglars with extensive criminal records are captured by a policeman; the small-time embezzler Arthur Kindred, who is primary and without any resistance. The tough Detective Jim [=McLeod=] (Douglas) is an honest detective with strong principles and a code of honor, who loves his wife Mary (Creator/EleanorParker). He is near to conclude a case against an abortionist, Dr. Karl Schneider (George Macready), with the testimony of a witness who's coming to testify against the physician. However, the woman is bribed and the upset [=McLeod=] hits Schneider, who insinuates to [=McLeod=]'s chief, Lt. Monaghan (Horace [=McMahon=], that the problem is personal and gives the name of Mary [=McLeod=]. Monaghan invites Mary to come to the precinct for the investigation when deep inner secrets are disclosed, leading to a tragedy.

[[quoteright:277:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/detective_story.jpg]]

''Detective Story'' is a 1951 FilmNoir film directed by Creator/WilliamWyler and starring Creator/KirkDouglas. It tells the story of one day in the lives of the various people who populate a police detective squad incorporating heavy elements of PoliceProcedural. The story is based on the 1949 play of the same name written by Sidney Kingsley.

In the 21st Precinct of New York, criminals are booked after being arrested: a shoplifter is brought after stealing a purse in a department store; two burglars with extensive criminal records are captured by a policeman; the small-time embezzler Arthur Kindred, who is primary and without any resistance. The tough Detective [=McLeod=] (played by Creator/KirkDouglas) is an honest detective with strong principles and a code of honor, who loves his wife Mary. He is near to conclude a case against an abortionist, Dr. Karl Schneider, with the testimony of a witness that is coming to identify Dr. Schneider. However, the woman is bribed and the upset [=McLeod=] hits Schneider, and he insinuates to [=McLeod=]'s chief, Lt. Monaghan, that the problem is personal and gives the name of Mary [=McLeod=]. Lt. Monaghan invites Mary to come to the precinct for the investigation when deep inner secrets are disclosed, leading to a tragedy.

* FreudianExcuse: We learn that [=McLeod=] turned into such a bitter and cynical person because of his experience with his psycho father who drove his mother into insanity. He allegedly did try to be a reasonable cop at first, until one young crook he shown lenience on [[TheFarmerAndTheViper ended up committing murder in another robbery shortly afterwards]], trampling any sense of empathy [=McLeod=] had for the people he brought in. Mary later points out how NotSoDifferent from his father he has become over the years.

-->'''Mary''': You think you're on the side of the angels? Well, you're not. You haven't even a drop of ordinary human forgiveness in your whole nature. You're a cruel and vengeful man. [[HeWhoFightsMonsters You're everything]] you [[NotSoDifferent always said you hated in your own father]].

* HardboiledDetective: [=McLeod=].

* LaughingMad: The four-time offender is this.

* PerpAndWeapon: The final scene. Not exactly played straight as it leads to [[spoiler: the death of the hero.]]

* FreudianExcuse: We learn that [=McLeod=] turned into such a bitter and cynical person because of his experience with his psycho father who drove his mother into insanity. Mary later points out how NotSoDifferent he has become over the years.

In the 21st Precinct of New York, criminals are booked after being arrested: a shoplifter is brought after stealing a purse in a department store; two burglars with extensive criminal records are captured by a policeman; the small time embezzler Arthur Kindred, who is primary and without any resistance. The tough Detective [=McLeod=] (played by Creator/KirkDouglas) is an honest detective with strong principles and code of honor, who loves his wife Mary. He is near to conclude a case against an abortionist, Dr. Karl Schneider, with the testimony of a witness that is coming to identify Dr. Schneider. However, the woman is bribed and the upset [=McLeod=] hits Schneider, and he insinuates to [=McLeod=]'s chief, Lt. Monaghan, that the problem is personal and gives the name of Mary [=McLeod=]. Lt. Monaghan invites Mary to come to the precinct for investigation, when deep inner secrets are disclosed leading to a tragedy.

* AbortionFalloutDrama: Jim [=McLeod=] is a police officer with a jones to bust an abortionist (when, being in the '50s, abortion is a criminal offense). The doctor assumes [=McLeod=] is out to get him because the doc once performed an abortion of Mrs. [=McLeod=]. Not so! [=McLeod=] didn't know about that at all. When [=McLeod=] finds out, he's more upset because his wife had the abortion before they met. The head of the Hays Commission tried to rain down hellfire on the film, saying that abortion was such an evil that you couldn't even discuss it in a film, even if you were portraying it in a fairly negative fashion.
* BlackAndWhiteInsanity: [=McLeod=] views the world this way, even [[AllCrimesAreEqual refusing to give a break]] to a man who embezzled a small amount of money despite the victim not wanting to prosecute. He tells them that he'll commit another crime and another until he's like the gibbering idiots they've also arrested. His world collapses when he finds out his saintly wife knew men before him, became pregnant and had an abortion.

* PerpAndWeapon: The final scene. Not exactly played straight as it leads to [[spoiler:the death of the hero.]]

* PoliceLineup: Done to convict Schneider but it turns out the witness was bought and doesn't recognize Schneider in the line up.
* PoliceProcedural: The movie shows the everyday routine of the 21st Precinct, the issues they have to deal with, from petty complaints by citizens, to minor felonies, to major crimes.

* SlutShaming: What [=McLeod=] does to his wife which causes her to walk away.

* TragicHero: [=McLeod=] is a good guy but his DarkAndTroubledPast has made him a cynist with a LackOfEmpathy and has paved the way to his doom.

* UltimateJobSecurity: [=McLeod=]'s violent behavior should have gotten him fired long time ago, but Lt. Monaghan keeps him hired for being a good at his job.

In the 21st Precinct of New York, criminals are booked after being arrested: a shoplifter is brought after stealing a purse in a department store; two burglars with extensive criminal record are captured by a policeman; the small time embezzler Arthur Kindred, who is primary and without any resistance. The tough Detective [=McLeod=] (played by Creator/KirkDouglas) is an honest detective with strong principles and code of honor, who loves his wife Mary. He is near to conclude a case against an abortionist, Dr. Karl Schneider, with the testimony of a witness that is coming to identify Dr. Schneider. However, the woman is bribed and the upset [=McLeod=] hits Schneider, and he insinuates to [=McLeod=]'s chief, Lt. Monaghan, that the problem is personal and gives the name of Mary [=McLeod=]. Lt. Monaghan invites Mary to come to the precinct for investigation, when deep inner secrets are disclosed leading to a tragedy.

* ExtremelyShortTimespan: The story spans from one afternoon to the next morning.