Detective Story (1951 film)

Detective Story
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	William Wyler
Screenplay by	Robert Wyler Philip Yordan
Based on	Detective Story 1949 play by Sidney Kingsley
Produced by	William Wyler
Starring	Kirk Douglas Eleanor Parker William Bendix Cathy O'Donnell George Macready Gladys George Joseph Wiseman Lee Grant Gerald Mohr
Cinematography	Lee Garmes John F. Seitz (uncredited)
Edited by	Robert Swink
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	November 6, 1951 (1951-11-06) (United States)
Running time	103 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1.5 million[1]
Box office	$2.8 million (rentals)[2]

Detective Story is a 1951 American crime drama directed by William Wyler and starring Kirk Douglas that tells the story of one day in the lives of the various people who populate a police detective squad. The ensemble supporting cast features Eleanor Parker, William Bendix, Cathy O'Donnell, and George Macready. Both Lee Grant and Joseph Wiseman play large roles in their film debuts. The film was adapted by Robert Wyler and Philip Yordan from the 1949 play of the same name by Sidney Kingsley. It was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Academy Award for Best Director for Wyler, Best Actress for Parker, and Best Supporting Actress for Grant.

An angry New York detective is one of a precinct of cops in a grim daily battle with the city's lowlife. Little does he realize that his obsessive pursuit of an "abortionist" is leading him to a discovery closer to home. 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.