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Detective Story

 Detective Story
type
TVTItem
 Detective Story
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Detective Story
 Detective Story
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DetectiveStory
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Detective Story is a 1951 Film Noir drama directed by William Wyler and starring Kirk Douglas. It tells the story of one day in the lives of the various people who populate a police detective squad incorporating heavy elements of Police Procedural. The story is based on the 1949 play of the same name written by Sidney Kingsley, where Douglas's role was originated by Ralph Bellamy.In the 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 (Eleanor Parker). 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.Film debut of Lee Grant, who appears as a shoplifter. Nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Director (Wyler), Actress (Parker), Supporting Actress (Grant), and Screenplay (Philip Yordan and Robert Wyler).
 Detective Story
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2023-06-14T11:58:34Z
 Detective Story
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2023-06-14T11:58:35Z
 Detective Story
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DBTropes
 Detective Story / int_281de59f
type
Extremely Short Timespan
 Detective Story / int_281de59f
comment
Extremely Short Timespan: The story spans one 8-hour shift at the police station.
 Detective Story / int_281de59f
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1.0
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1.0
 Detective Story
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 Detective Story / int_4733b5a5
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Saying Too Much
 Detective Story / int_4733b5a5
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Saying Too Much: 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.
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 Detective Story
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Detective Story / int_4733b5a5
 Detective Story / int_545f8c91
type
Abortion Fallout Drama
 Detective Story / int_545f8c91
comment
Abortion Fallout Drama: 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.
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Detective Story / int_545f8c91
 Detective Story / int_591a2fc5
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The Grovel
 Detective Story / int_591a2fc5
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The Grovel: 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 Hair-Trigger Temper.
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 Detective Story / int_5f252b8b
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One Phone Call
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One Phone Call: Generously, the lady shoplifter is granted three calls.
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 Detective Story / int_71329e49
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Turn in Your Badge
 Detective Story / int_71329e49
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Turn in Your Badge: Lampshaded by McLeod when he asks Lt. Monaghan if he wanted his badge when being called into his office.
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1.0
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 Detective Story / int_73328e84
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Suicide by Cop
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Suicide by Cop: Suicide by criminal. While it could be seen as a Heroic Sacrifice, McLeod's main motivation for confronting the criminal at the end was rather an act of 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 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".
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 Detective Story / int_744e3311
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Police Brutality
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Police Brutality: McLeod gives Dr. Schneider a good beating when they are alone in the police car.
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1.0
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 Detective Story / int_7d89315b
type
"The Reason You Suck" Speech
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"The Reason You Suck" Speech: Before leaving him for good, Mary gives this speech to McLeod about his vile nature which she has overlooked for so long:
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 Detective Story / int_820133fd
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Tragic Hero
 Detective Story / int_820133fd
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Tragic Hero: McLeod is a good guy but his Dark and Troubled Past has made him a cynic with a Lack of Empathy and has paved the way to his doom.
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1.0
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 Detective Story / int_85537320
type
Police Procedural
 Detective Story / int_85537320
comment
Police Procedural: 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.
 Detective Story / int_85537320
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1.0
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 Detective Story / int_8c55e307
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Ultimate Job Security
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Ultimate Job Security: 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.
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1.0
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 Detective Story / int_a0db7803
type
It's Personal
 Detective Story / int_a0db7803
comment
It's Personal: 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 Blood Knight temperament. Who knows how worse Schneider might have suffered if he had known.
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 Detective Story / int_a4be7043
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Da Chief
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Da Chief: Lt. Monaghan.
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1.0
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Black-and-White Insanity
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Black-and-White Insanity: McLeod views the world this way, even 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.
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You Do Not Have to Say Anything
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You Do Not Have to Say Anything: Schneider's lawyer advises him to say no more than his name and address.
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1.0
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Freudian Excuse
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Freudian Excuse: 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 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.
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 Detective Story / int_c972d624
type
Slut-Shaming
 Detective Story / int_c972d624
comment
Slut-Shaming: What McLeod does to his wife, which causes her to walk away.
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1.0
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 Detective Story / int_d24f76b2
type
Police Lineup
 Detective Story / int_d24f76b2
comment
Police Lineup: Done to convict Schneider, but it turns out the witness was bought and doesn't recognize Schneider in the line-up.
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 Detective Story / int_d5139ac
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Reality Has No Soundtrack
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Reality Has No Soundtrack: There is no score besides opening and closing credits.
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Detective Story

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Detective Story
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Abortion Fallout Drama / int_27f1489a
 Detective Story
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Black-and-White Insanity / int_27f1489a
 Detective Story
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Film Noir Index / int_27f1489a
 Detective Story
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Perp and Weapon / int_27f1489a
 Detective Story
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Police Lineup / int_27f1489a
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Cuffs Off, Rub Wrists / int_27f1489a