McLeod's motivation in his work is not to solve crimes or even protect the innocent. Instead it is a character study of Jim McLeod, played by Kirk Douglas. This is not a crime drama in the conventional sense where there is any real action or crime to solve, even though you have a room full of New York City police detectives on screen for just about the whole movie. Jim McLeod in "Detective Story" is a real showcase for his acting talents. Kirk Douglas has always excelled in roles where he plays the maverick loner, walking the fine line between anger and insanity. It's not a standard crime picture, and it most definitely is a talky film, but this works incredibly well, so one can only hope that many others will feel the same as myself, in that namely that it is indeed a fine and essential genre piece. It's by definition to me an all encompassing picture, one that is now sure to be a perennial viewing in my home. And with it embracing as it does, morality themes, it also doesn't lack for interest to the cranial head scratching crowd. It's got real raw emotive acting, particularly from Kirk Douglas as Jim McLeod and Eleanor Parker as his wife Mary, while the technical aspects (watch Lee Garmes' camera glide like a third party witness) are impressively high. It's a difficult film to sell without giving too much away, by outlaying the character persona's and mental fortitude's, I personally feel that it will dull the impact of this influential crime genre piece. Each character has much to offer the film, be it oddly quirky or overtly intense, within the confines of this particular precinct, the characters create engrossing drama. Practically set on one bleak, but quite excellently appropriate set (creation courtesy of Hal Pereira & Earl Hedrick), Detective Story manages to rise above the very simple plot by boasting interesting characters in a pot boiling story just waiting to reach its peak. Detective Story is based on the smash hit Broadway play by Sidney Kingsley, adapted by Phillip Yordan and Robert Wyler, it's with much relief to me that the worry of it being a stagy production never actually materialises. Directed by William Wyler (Best years Of Our Lives, Ben-Hur & Wuthering Heights) and starring Kirk Douglas, Eleanor Parker, William Bendix, Cathy O'Donnell and Joseph Wiseman. It's a day that nobody present will ever forget - for better or worse. Title (Brazil): "Chaga de Fogo" ("Sore of Fire")Īn assortment of detectives and an assortment of criminals, all gathered together under the oppressive 21st Precint roof. The direction of William Wyler is perfect as usual. Eleanor Parker is also fantastic, in the dramatic and heartbreaking role of Mary McLeod. Kirk Douglas gives an outstanding performance, developing a complex character that sees his principles destroyed in a couple of hours with a great intensity. "Detective Story" is amazingly intense and full of emotions in spite of being shot practically in only one scenario in the interior of the precinct. Monaghan invites Mary to come to his office for investigation, when deep innermost secrets of her past are disclosed leading to a tragedy. Monaghan (Horace McMahon), that the problem is personal and gives the name of Mary McLeod. However, the woman is bribed and the upset McLeod hits Schneider, and he insinuates to McLeod's chief, Lt. Karl Schneider (George Macready), with the testimony of a witness that is coming to identify Dr. He is near to conclude a case against an abortionist, Dr. The tough Detective McLeod (Kirk Douglas), who loves his wife Mary (Eleanor Parker), is an honest detective with strong principles and code of honor and zero tolerance. In one day in the 21st Precinct of New York, many 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 burgling an apartment the small time embezzler Arthur Kindred (Craig Hill), who is primary, is arrested without any resistance.
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