Detective Story (1951) (1 Viewer)

[Shawn Cornwell]

Here's a shout-out for a release of the great 1951 William Wyler classic starring Kirk Douglas and Eleanor Parker. Like Douglas' other 1951 classic ("Ace in the Hole"), "Story" has never seen the light of day on video or DVD.

As Paramount released both films, how about a Douglas DVD double feature of "Story"/"Hole" (similar to the Bing Crosby twofer of "Here Comes the Groom/Just For You")? Paramount could do worse, and many movie fans would be ecstatic. I know "Hole" has been brought up in other threads, but "Story" is also first-rate down the line, with spot-on direction and vivid performances from the entire cast (Parker and Lee Grant- in her film debut- both won Oscar nominations, as did Wyler for his direction). Definitely an engrossing drama long overdue for some attention.

P.S.- A Douglas-Parker-Grant commentary (or at least one of the three) would be a great addition. In particular, Grant's insights regarding the film and the early 1950's would be fascinating, considering what happened to her career (read: the blacklist) subsequent to the release of the film.

 

[Dave B Ferris]

Agreed and seconded. Excellent ideas.

 

[Peter M Fitzgerald]

I'll third the motion!

 

[AndrewWickliffe]

This film is actually #1 on my wish list...

Probably followed by some of Parker's other non-MGM titles--which Warners might get around to doing someday. (Yeah, where's that Caged we were promised last year's chat!)

But, seriously, this is a great film and TCM doesn't seem to have it, so I guess I'll treasure my AMC taping from 2000.

 

[HaigH]

Detective Story indeed!

Great film and it had quite the struggle with the PCA

 

[Jon Hertzberg]

I would love to see this and the other lost Douglas classic from 1951.

Parker also offers great support to John Garfield in WB's stellar 1945 war drama Pride of the Marines, also never before released on any home video format.

 

[Sean A]

Please Paramount, bring it on .
They recently released the film Wyler made the following year, Carrie , and you would think a film like Detective Story would have been released before that one , since it seems to have more appeal for audiences these days

 

[Hank Frankenberg]

Please do both, Paramount!

 

[Herb Kane]

No doubt with Republic Pictures and some of the Allied Artists titles set to revert back to Paramount at year’s end, we’ll see more of these classics appear, although we have to rely on Universal for the pre ’48 films.

But to date, Paramount has only released four noirs on DVD; Sunset Blvd. (1950), The Desperate Hours (1955), A Place in the Sun (1951) and Sorry, Wrong Number (1948).

Detective Story (along with the obvious fan favorite, Ace In The Hole), really needs to be released. Other noirs Paramount should seriously consider:

Accused, The (1948)
Ace in the Hole (1951)
Alias Nick Beal (1949)
Appointment With Danger (1951)
Blind Date (1958)
Chicago Deadline (1949)
Dark City (1950)
File on Thelma Jordon, The (1950)
Hell's Island (1955)
I Walk Alone (1948)
Lawless, The (1950)
Manhandled (1949)
Man-Trap (1961)
Night Has a Thousand Eyes (1948)
No Man of Her Own (1950)
Paid In Full (1950)
Rope Of Sand (1949)
Savage Innocents, The (1959)
Scarlet Hour, The (1956)
Short Cut To Hell (1957)
So Evil My Love (1949)
Special Agent (1949)
Trap, The (1959)
Turning Point, The (1952)
Union Station (1950)

I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that I’d buy each and every one of these…

 

[Peter M Fitzgerald]

Good post, as usual, Herb. Paramount definitely should follow Warner's and Fox's (and to a lesser extent, Universal's) lead and start a film noir line of its own. Several great titles there (and a later Paramount noir not on your list, WARNING SHOT (1967)). And, as you indicated, Paramount will get the Republic library in a few months, which contains such noir gems as:

THE PITFALL (1948)
TRY AND GET ME (1950)
BEWARE MY LOVELY (1952)
PLUNDER ROAD (1957)
HOUSE BY THE RIVER (1950)
SECRET BEYOND THE DOOR (1948)
FINGER MAN (1955)
RIOT IN CELL BLOCK 11 (1954)
PRIVATE HELL 36 (1954)
CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS (1953)
SHACK OUT ON 101 (1955)
THE SCAR (1948, aka HOLLOW TRIUMPH) --UCLA restored print