Detective Story (1951 film)
Updated: 12/20/2025, 2:15:27 PM Wikipedia source
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, and 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 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.
Infobox
Directed by
William Wyler
Screenplay by
Robert WylerPhilip Yordan
Based on
Detective Story1949 playby Sidney Kingsley
Produced by
William Wyler
Starring
Kirk DouglasEleanor ParkerWilliam BendixCathy O'Donnell
Cinematography
Lee GarmesJohn F. Seitz (uncredited)
Edited by
Robert Swink
Distributed by
Paramount Pictures
Release date
mw- November 6, 1950 (1950-11-06) (New York)
Running time
103 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$1.5 million
Box office
$2.8 million (rentals)
Tables
· Reception › Awards and nominations
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Award
Academy Awards
Category
Best Director
Nominee(s)
William Wyler
Result
Nominated
Best Actress
Best Actress
Award
Best Actress
Category
Eleanor Parker
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actress
Award
Best Supporting Actress
Category
Lee Grant
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Category
Philip Yordan and Robert Wyler
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Argentine Academy of Cinematography Arts and Sciences
Argentine Academy of Cinematography Arts and Sciences
Award
Argentine Academy of Cinematography Arts and Sciences
Category
Silver Condor
Nominee(s)
Special Mention
British Academy Film Awards
British Academy Film Awards
Award
British Academy Film Awards
Category
Best Film from any Source
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
Award
Cannes Film Festival
Category
Grand Prix
Nominee(s)
William Wyler
Result
Nominated
Best Actress
Best Actress
Award
Best Actress
Category
Lee Grant
Nominee(s)
Won
Directors Guild of America Awards
Directors Guild of America Awards
Award
Directors Guild of America Awards
Category
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
Nominee(s)
William Wyler
Result
Nominated
Edgar Allan Poe Awards
Edgar Allan Poe Awards
Award
Edgar Allan Poe Awards
Category
Best Motion Picture Screenplay
Nominee(s)
Philip Yordan, Robert Wyler and Sidney Kingsley
Result
Won
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Category
Best Motion Picture – Drama
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Award
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Category
Kirk Douglas
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Award
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Category
Lee Grant
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Laurel Awards
Laurel Awards
Award
Laurel Awards
Category
Top Male Dramatic Performance
Nominee(s)
Kirk Douglas
Result
Won
National Board of Review Awards
National Board of Review Awards
Award
National Board of Review Awards
Category
Top Ten Films
Nominee(s)
5th Place
Picturegoer Awards
Picturegoer Awards
Award
Picturegoer Awards
Category
Best Actor
Nominee(s)
Kirk Douglas
Result
Won
Writers Guild of America Awards
Writers Guild of America Awards
Award
Writers Guild of America Awards
Category
Best Written American Drama
Nominee(s)
Philip Yordan and Robert Wyler
Result
Nominated
| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| Academy Awards | Best Director | William Wyler | Nominated |
| Best Actress | Eleanor Parker | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Lee Grant | Nominated | |
| Best Screenplay | Philip Yordan and Robert Wyler | Nominated | |
| Argentine Academy of Cinematography Arts and Sciences | Silver Condor | Special Mention | |
| British Academy Film Awards | Best Film from any Source | Nominated | |
| Cannes Film Festival | Grand Prix | William Wyler | Nominated |
| Best Actress | Lee Grant | Won | |
| Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | William Wyler | Nominated |
| Edgar Allan Poe Awards | Best Motion Picture Screenplay | Philip Yordan, Robert Wyler and Sidney Kingsley | Won |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Motion Picture – Drama | Nominated | |
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Kirk Douglas | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture | Lee Grant | Nominated | |
| Laurel Awards | Top Male Dramatic Performance | Kirk Douglas | Won |
| National Board of Review Awards | Top Ten Films | 5th Place | |
| Picturegoer Awards | Best Actor | Kirk Douglas | Won |
| Writers Guild of America Awards | Best Written American Drama | Philip Yordan and Robert Wyler | Nominated |
References
- The New York Times
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/variety185-1952-02/page/n1/mode/1up?q=%22brought+in+at%22
- 'The Top Box Office Hits of 1951', Variety, January 2, 1952.
- The New York Times
- The New York Times
- Prince, S. (2003). Classical film violence: Designing and regulating brutality in Hollywood cinema, 1930–1968. (pp. 128-
- festival-cannes.comhttp://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/3985/year/1952.html
- The Buffalo News
- Nostalgia Digest