Trailer

Detective Story

1951Movie1 h 43 min

74
GoodGoodWatch score

A relentlessly bleak, tense crime movie about crime and everyday modern life, with standout performances and direction.

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood

Where to watch

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Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Story

The love story of a man whose wife was more woman than angel!

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.

Feels like

  • Gritty Police Procedural
  • Chamber Drama
  • Kirk Douglas Powerhouse Performance
  • Cinematic Adaptation of Stage Play
  • Moral Ambiguity
  • Realistic Dialogue
  • Dark Noir Atmosphere
  • Psychological Character Study
  • Systemic Critique

Cast

Crew

Directed by
William Wyler
Produced by
William Wyler

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

October 19, 1951 · 1 h 43 min · Violence, Strong Language

Released
October 19, 1951
Runtime
1 h 43 min
Content
Violence, Strong Language
Genres
Crime, Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
31 countries

Tropes

Police Lineup, Back-Alley Doctor, Police Brutality +9

  • Police Lineup
  • Back-Alley Doctor
  • Police Brutality
  • It's Personal
  • Turn in Your Badge
  • "The Reason You Suck" Speech
  • Suicide by Cop
  • Threat Backfire
  • Abortion Fallout Drama
  • Pistol-Whipping
  • Slut-Shaming
  • Love Makes You Crazy

12 of 25 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream Detective Story?"

Questions about Detective Story

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Detective Story?

In the United States, Detective Story is free with ads on Kanopy. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 2 other countries.

Is Detective Story worth watching?

74
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 74 (IMDb 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes 71%, and Metacritic 78).

Will I feel good after watching Detective Story?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for bleakness and 6 for melancholy, against 1 for hopefulness.

Is Detective Story plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on dialogue centrality (10 of 10) and character depth (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

What tropes does Detective Story use?

Police LineupBack-Alley DoctorPolice BrutalityIt's PersonalTurn in Your Badge"The Reason You Suck" SpeechSuicide by CopThreat BackfireAbortion Fallout DramaPistol-WhippingSlut-ShamingLove Makes You Crazyand 13 more

TV Tropes lists 25 tropes for it, including Police Lineup, Back-Alley Doctor, and Police Brutality.