Detective Story (1951)

 William Wyler's "Detective Story"


While watching William Wyler's "Detective Story," I felt as though, on paper, the story worked very well. It takes place in a single location, over the course of a single night, as Kirk Douglas' character maneuvers through multiple cases he's working on with various suspects, guilty parties, and witnesses. Although it seemed to work logistically and felt interesting enough, I was a bit unengaged with the work. I did mildly enjoy it, but I felt I was enjoying the idea of the story more than the execution of it. That being said, I feel as though the hardened attitude of Douglas' character is the main focal point that I gravitate towards. Sometimes I feel as though I agree with his cynical, hardened stance and other times I feel as though he is being too harsh. There are instances, like the one I just described, that force thought about morality, crime, and other elements of 'justice.' From these notions of perceived justice, one could also derive a perspective of America at the time and its McCarthyism. The film reveals the hypocrisy of blind justice and the disregard for empathy and context. 

I was writing the review as I was watching the film. The film's ending and Douglas' characters' tragic downfall (on account of him digging his heels in) really sucked me in. Enjoyed it.



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