Movie

Detective Story

“The love story of a man whose wife was more woman than angel!”

★ 7.1(167)19511h 43m

Detective Story is available to rent or buy on Apple TV Store, Orange VOD, Sooner, Amazon Video, VIVA by videofutur and Premiere Max in France. It isn't on a subscription streaming service there yet. Availability checked 21 July 2026.

Where to watch Detective Story

🇫🇷 France

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Good to know

Director: William Wyler
Release date: 1951-10-19
Runtime: 1h 43m
Language: English
Status: Released
Country: United States of America
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Detective Story — trailer

About Detective Story

Detective Story is a 1951 movie in the Crime and Drama genres, directed by William Wyler, starring Kirk Douglas, Eleanor Parker and William Bendix. It has a runtime of 1 hour 43 minutes. It holds an average rating of 7.1/10 from 167 viewers. Below you can see where to watch Detective Story in France — across streaming, rental and purchase options — along with the full cast, trailer and viewer reviews.

Synopsis

Tells the story of one day in the lives of the various people who populate a police detective squad. An embittered cop, Det. Jim McLeod, leads a precinct of characters in their grim daily battle with the city's lowlife. 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.

Cast

Kirk Douglas

Det. James McLeod

Eleanor Parker

Mary McLeod

William Bendix

Det. Lou Brody

Cathy O'Donnell

Susan Carmichael

George Macready

Karl Schneider

Horace McMahon

Lt. Monaghan

Gladys George

Miss Hatch

Joseph Wiseman

Charley Gennini

Lee Grant

Shoplifter

Gerald Mohr

Tami Giacoppetti

Frank Faylen

Det. Gallagher

Craig Hill

Arthur Kindred

Themes & keywords

marriage crisissuppressed pastdetectivedetective storyfilm noirpolice detectivepolice stationtough copwanting a babyhidden truthempathydark secretbaby sellingintimidation by policesearch for truth

Frequently asked questions

Where can I watch Detective Story in France?+

In France, Detective Story is available to rent or buy on Apple TV Store, Orange VOD, Sooner, Amazon Video, VIVA by videofutur and Premiere Max. It isn't on a subscription streaming service there right now.

Is Detective Story on Netflix?+

Detective Story is not on Netflix in France right now.

How long is Detective Story?+

Detective Story has a runtime of 1 hour 43 minutes (103 minutes).

Who stars in Detective Story?+

Detective Story stars Kirk Douglas, Eleanor Parker, William Bendix, Cathy O'Donnell and George Macready.

When did Detective Story come out?+

Detective Story is a 1951 movie directed by William Wyler.

What genre is Detective Story?+

Detective Story is Crime and Drama film.

Who directed Detective Story?+

Detective Story was directed by William Wyler.