Line #18 Film/DetectiveStory


1	[[quoteright:310:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/detective_story_1951.jpeg]]
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3	''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 Creator/SidneyKingsley, where Douglas's role was originated by Creator/RalphBellamy.
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5	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 uncompromising moral 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 and one of his former patients. However, the former is bribed and the latter dies in the hospital before she can testify. An enraged [=McLeod=] brutally attacks 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 a private interview, and soon deep inner secrets are disclosed, leading to a tragedy.
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7	Film debut of Creator/LeeGrant, who appears as a shoplifter. Nominated for four UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s, including Best Director (Wyler), Actress (Parker), Supporting Actress (Grant), and Screenplay (Philip Yordan and Robert Wyler).
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10	!!This film provides examples of:
11	* 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.
12	* 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.
13	* DaChief: Lt. Monaghan.
14	* ExtremelyShortTimespan: The story spans one 8-hour shift at the police station.
15	* 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 similar to his father he has become over the years.
16	* TheGrovel: After calling her names [=McLeod=] makes up with his wife. It only works for a couple of minutes until he ruins it again with his HairTriggerTemper.
17	%%* HardboiledDetective: [=McLeod=].
18	* ItsPersonal: [=McLeod=] is recurrently implied to have personal motives for his zeal against Schneider, which culminates in the reveal that his wife got an abortion through him. It turns out to be subverted however, [=McLeod=] didn't even know about this initially, his treatment against Schneider was just his usual BloodKnight temperament. Who knows how worse Schneider might have suffered if he ''had'' known.
19	%%* LaughingMad: The four-time offender is this.
20	* OnePhoneCall: Generously, the lady shoplifter is granted three calls.
21	* PoliceBrutality: [=McLeod=] gives Dr. Schneider a good beating when they are alone in the police car.
22	* PoliceLineup: Done to convict Schneider, but it turns out the witness was bought and doesn't recognize Schneider in the line-up.
23	* 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.
24	* RealityHasNoSoundtrack: There is no score besides opening and closing credits.
25	* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Before leaving him for good, Mary gives this speech to [=McLeod=] about his vile nature which she has overlooked for so long:
26	-->'''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 [[NotSoDifferentRemark always said you hated in your own father]].
27	* SayingTooMuch: After [=McLeod=] assaults Schneider, his lawyer angrily confronts him and Monaghan, outraged a cop with biased personal connections has been left in charge. Realising his slip, he quickly decides to leave when Monaghan questions this.
28	* SlutShaming: What [=McLeod=] does to his wife, which causes her to walk away.
29	* SuicideByCop: Suicide by criminal. While it could be seen as a HeroicSacrifice, [[spoiler:[=McLeod=]'s main motivation for confronting the criminal at the end was rather an act of [[DrivenToSuicide desperation]] after Mary left him]]. [[note]]As it was impossible to film the movie without portraying the killing of [=McLeod=], this movie resulted in another amendment to the [[UsefulNotes/TheHaysCode Production Code]] to allow the display of law enforcement officers dying at the hands of criminals if it was "absolutely necessary to the development of the plot".[[/note]]
30	* ThreatBackfire: Schneider's lawyer threatens to sue [=McLeod=] after assaulting his client. [=McLeod=] jeers at him to do just that, since then he can have Schneider squirm in court too. Outraged, the lawyer complains to Monaghan about [=McLeod=]'s personal vendetta with Schneider, [[OhCrap realising too late he's slipped too much info.]]
31	* TragicHero: [=McLeod=] is a good guy but his DarkAndTroubledPast has made him a cynic with a LackOfEmpathy and has paved the way to his doom.
32	* TurnInYourBadge: Lampshaded by [=McLeod=] when he asks Lt. Monaghan if he wanted his badge when being called into his office.
33	* UltimateJobSecurity: [=McLeod=]'s violent behavior should have gotten him fired a long time ago, but Lt. Monaghan keeps him hired for being good at his job.
34	* YouDoNotHaveToSayAnything: Schneider's lawyer advises him to say no more than his name and address.

Context Film / DetectiveStory