This site is devoted to the love of classic movies. What qualifies as a classic film or movie is somewhat subjective. There are certain films which endure because they strike an emotional chord long after their initial release. For example, a movie like "Casablanca" (1942) would qualify as a classic under that definition.
Detective Story (1951) is an American drama directed
by William Wyler and starring Kirk Douglas, Eleanor Parker, and William Bendix.
The supporting cast includes Cathy O’Donnell, George Macready, Lee Grant, and
Joseph Wiseman. This was the film debut for both Grant and Wiseman.
The film takes place over one day at a New York City
police station. Kirk Douglas plays a tough detective who, in his pursuit of
criminals, leads him to discover a secret that could destroy his marriage and
career.
Click HERE to watch the film on the Internet Movie Archive
.
Click HERE to join the online discussion on May 5, 2025, at
6:30 p.m. Central Time. Once you RSVP, you will receive an email with a link to
join the discussion on Zoom.
Kirk Douglas and Eleanor Parker
Detective Story trivia
The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including
Best Actress for Eleanor Parker and Best Supporting Actress for Lee Grant.
Alan Ladd was originally offered the role of Detective
McLeod.
The film is based on the Broadway play that ran for 581
performances. Ralph Bellamy starred as Detective McLeod.
Joseph Wiseman and Lee Grant recreated their stage roles.
Cathy O’Donnell and Gladys George were directed by William
Wyler in The Best Years of Our Lives.
Discussion questions
Do you think the play transferred to film successfully?
Eleanor Parker is on screen for just over 20 minutes but it
was enough for her to get a Best Actress nod. Do you think she deserved it?
What did you think of Kirk Douglas’s performance as the
detective?
The movie has an amazing supporting cast. Did any one
performance stand out to you?
They Live By Night (1948) is an American film noir directed by
Nicholas Ray and starring Cathy O’Donnell and Farley Granger. Howard Da Silva,
Jay C. Flippen, Helen Craig, and Ian Wolfe round out the supporting cast. The
film was based on the novel Thieves Like
Us (1937) by Edward Anderson. The film was produced by John Houseman, with
cinematography by George E. Diskant (The Racket,
The Narrow Margin), and music by
Leigh Harline (Pinocchio, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House).
Arthur
“Bowie” Bowers (Granger), a 23-year-old convicted of murder when he was 16. He escapes
from prison with two older bank robbers, Chicamaw (Da Silva) and T-Dub
(Flippen). The three escapees, shelter with Chicamaw’s brother and niece,
Catherine “Keechie” Mobley (O’Donnell). Keechie and her uncle operate a service
station.
The three plan a bank robbery
that goes smoothly, but things take a dark turn when Chicamaw kills a cop after
Bowie crashed the getaway car. Bowie,
who is injured, is left in the care of Keechie as Chicamaw joins T-Dub in
another town. Bowie and Keechie grow close and end up at a chapel that performs
weddings for $20. The two are now on the run from the law. Will their story have
a happy ending?
Cathy O’Donnell and Farley Granger
Nicholas
Ray (1911 – 1979) was an American film director. Some of his best known films
include They Live By Night (1948), In A Lonely Place (1950), Johnny Guitar (1954), Rebel Without a Cause (1955). His films influenced
directors Joseph H. Lewis, Arthur Penn, Terrence Malick, and Robert Altman.
Later in his career, he directed the big screen epics King of Kings (1961) and 55
Days at Peking (1963) starring Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, and David
Niven.
Cathy O’Donnell (1923 - 1970) was an American actress best known for her roles in The Best Years of Our Lives, They Live by Night (1948), and Ben-Hur (1959) where she played Tirzah, the sister of Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston). She appeared on the small screen on Perry Mason and Bonanza. She was married to director Wyler’s older brother Robert. She passed away after a long illness on her 22nd wedding anniversary.
Farley Granger (1925 – 2011) was an American actor best known for his two films with Alfred Hitchcock: Rope (1948) and Strangers on a Train (19510). Signed to a long-term contract by Samuel Goldwyn. He made two films: The North Star (1943) and The Purple Heart (1944) before joining the United States Navy. When he returned to Hollywood he starred in They Live by Night (1948) which brought him to the attention of Hitchcock. Granger went on to star in other Goldwyn films including Enchantment (1948), Roseanna McCoy (1949), Edge of Doom (1950), and Our Very Own (1950). Granger worked in films, stage, and television, including work in several soap operas into the early 2000s.
They Live By Night trivia
This is Nicholas Ray’s first directing
credit.
Robert Mitchum lobbied hard for
the role of Chicamaw.
The film was made in 1947 but the
release was held up for over a year because Howard Hughes was in the process of
buying RKO.
Farley Granger recommended Cathy
O’Donnell for the role of Keechie.
Jane Greer auditioned for the
role of Keechie.
The film lost money when it was
released but is considered a classic today; it has a 96% rating on Rotten
Tomatoes.
The film was remade as Thieves Like Us by Robert Altman. The
film starred Keith Carradine and Shelley Duvall.
To watch the movie on YouTube,
click on the link below.
To join the discussion on July
10, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time, click here. Once you RSVP, you will
receive an invitation and a link to join the discussion on Zoom.
Discussion questions
Was the film realistic in its
portrayal of criminal behavior?
Did you find any of the
characters relatable?
Did Granger and O’Donnell have good on-screen chemistry?
The movie, a critical success
when released, was a huge financial failure at the box office, losing $445,000
($5,616,623.03 in 2023). Why do you think this was so?
