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Detective Story

1951·Movie·103 min·★ 7.1(174)

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

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.

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Where to watch Detective Story in India

Can I watch Detective Story in India? Detective Story isn't on subscription streaming in India right now, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video.

Click a service to open Detective Story there. Availability last verified on November 13, 2026.

Where is Detective Story streaming around the world?

CountryStreaming onRent / Buy
India—Amazon Video
United StatesKanopyAmazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies
United Kingdom—Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Sky Store
Canada—Apple TV Store, YouTube, Amazon Video
Australia—Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, YouTube
Germany—Apple TV Store, Amazon Video
France—Apple TV Store, Orange VOD, Sooner
South Koreawavve, Watchawavve

About Detective Story

Detective Story is a 1951 English-language crime and drama film directed by William Wyler. The cast is led by Kirk Douglas, Eleanor Parker, William Bendix. It has a runtime of 1h 43m. Viewers rate it 7.1/10 across 200 ratings. In India, it is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video.

Detective Story was produced by Paramount Pictures and made in United States of America. It was released on October 19, 1951.

Director
William Wyler
Writers
Philip Yordan, Robert Wyler
Release date
October 19, 1951
Original language
English
Status
Released
Country
United States of America
Production
Paramount Pictures
#marriage crisis#suppressed past#detective#detective story#film noir#police detective#police station#tough cop#wanting a baby#hidden truth#empathy#dark secret#baby selling#intimidation by police

Detective Story cast & crew

Detective Story was directed by William Wyler and written by Philip Yordan and Robert Wyler.

The cast features Kirk Douglas as Det. James McLeod, Eleanor Parker as Mary McLeod, William Bendix as Det. Lou Brody, Cathy O'Donnell as Susan Carmichael, George Macready as Karl Schneider, and Horace McMahon as Lt. Monaghan.

Behind the camera, cinematography is by Lee Garmes and it was produced by William Wyler.

Is Detective Story worth watching?

Detective Story holds an audience score of 7.1/10 from 174 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed crime films.

At 1h 43m, it's a standard feature-length watch.

If you enjoy crime and drama, Detective Story is worth a place on your watchlist.

How and where to watch Detective Story

Detective Story isn't on a subscription service in India right now, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video.

Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect India today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.

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Cast of Detective Story

Kirk Douglas

Kirk Douglas

Det. James McLeod

Eleanor Parker

Eleanor Parker

Mary McLeod

William Bendix

William Bendix

Det. Lou Brody

Cathy O'Donnell

Cathy O'Donnell

Susan Carmichael

George Macready

George Macready

Karl Schneider

Horace McMahon

Horace McMahon

Lt. Monaghan

Gladys George

Gladys George

Miss Hatch

Joseph Wiseman

Joseph Wiseman

Charley Gennini

Lee Grant

Lee Grant

Shoplifter

Gerald Mohr

Gerald Mohr

Tami Giacoppetti

Frank Faylen

Frank Faylen

Det. Gallagher

Craig Hill

Craig Hill

Arthur Kindred

Detective Story — FAQs

▸Where can I watch Detective Story in India?

Detective Story is not on subscription streaming in India right now, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video.

▸Where can I watch Detective Story in the US?

In the US, Detective Story is streaming on Kanopy, and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

▸Where can I watch Detective Story in the UK?

Detective Story isn't on subscription streaming in the UK, but you can rent or buy it on Apple TV Store and Amazon Video.

▸What language is Detective Story in?

Detective Story is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.

▸How long is Detective Story?

Detective Story runs 1 hours 43 minutes (103 minutes).

▸What is Detective Story rated?

It holds a 7.1/10 audience score from 174 ratings.

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