Review of Detective Story (1951) by Paul D — 17 May 2012

James McLeod (Douglas) is a no-nonsense cop whose life, other than the fact that people don't like him, is pretty good-- he has a beautiful, loving wife (Parker), he has a lot of money, and things are getting even better when he and his wife make plans to have a baby.

All that changes when a young man with a minor offense shows up and claims that he and James' wife knew each other way back-- and it turns out she might not be as clean-cut as he thought. "Detective Story" is one of those very good vintage dramas that is high quality in every way but somehow falls deeply through the cracks.

Although dated in more than a few ways (one of the main issues is something that society today wouldn't mind), overall this is a great movie that is entertaining, smart, and well-done. Filmed in real time, the film chronicles a day-in-the-life of a policeman, and we get to see every aspect, from the relationships with the other staff members, to the adults ready to be charged.

Wyler does a great job making this world into a movie without turning it into a stinky, old fashioned melodrama. Instead, he keeps us entertained-- every character's fascinating and has a story, and considering the film doesn't have anything besides acting and a great script to show us a good time, it's easy to say that's quite impressive.

As usual, Douglas gives a tour-de-force performance: but shockingly enough this time he's upstaged by Parker, who plays his long-suffering wife perfectly, and Grant (in her film debut) as the smart-mouthed thief.

"Detective Story" succeeds at everything it tries, and fans of any of these actors will find that these are their best performances. Recommended.