On a Sunday afternoon, at Prescient 21, New York City, an assortment of coulourful characters, from crooks to thieves to innocent first time offenders, swarm around, waiting to be booked. One such character is a shoplifter, played by Lee Grant, witnessing all the crazy goings-on, in the squad room. Lee Grant reprises her well received stage role, in her film debut, in Detective Story (1951), for which she won the award for ‘Best Actress‘ at the Cannes Film Festival, in 1952.

Lee Grant in Detective Story (1951)
As the movie begins, Lee Grant arrives in a not-so-well maintained car, dragged by a shabby looking cop. She’s taken upstairs into the squad room of New York’s Prescient 21. Her crime – she picked up a purse, due to a kleptomaniac impulse. A bag she didn’t even like. And it seems this was a first time offense, or at least the first time she got caught. Naive, innocent, stressed and nerve-wrecking, she is more worried than she should be. In fact, the cop tells her, that it’s not as if she committed a murder, she most probably will be acquitted, with no charges; and it will all be a waste of his time.
When she is asked to call a lawyer, she’s apprehensive, the only lawyer she knows is married to her pregnant sister. But as things start to heat up in the squad room, she finally asks her brother-in-law for help. Meanwhile, we see what a good heart she has, and what a social person she is. She innocently tries to comfort a young girl, whose sister’s ex-boyfriend, is being booked for embezzlement. She tells one of the detective’s he is quite handsome, and doesn’t look like a cop. She is amused with a watch in a comic strip, and compares it to the wristwatch worn by the cop that arrested her. This shoplifter, might have accidentally committed a crime, but is a very genuine person. More genuine, than most cops. Of course, the cops here treat her well. When one brings her food, she is truly grateful. As Grant’s shoplifter leaves the station, she bids adieu, to all the detectives at Prescient 21.
Lee Grant is superb as a nervous wreck, a foolish and somewhat comical shoplifter. A bit of an oddball nut-bag. A very naturalistic twitchy portrayal of a scared little kitten, feeling guiltier than she should be. Grant learnt the weird New York accent, she uses in the play and movie, when she heard two girls on a crosstown bus. Yes, she eavesdropped on total strangers, not because she wanted to know what they were talking about, but to study their mannerisms. A true testament to great acting.
Based on a 1949 play by Sidney Kingsley, Detective Story, and directed by William Wyler, the movie comprises of a superb cast, including Kirk Douglas, Eleanor Parker, Joseph Wiseman, William Bendix, Craig Hill, et al. Set in a single day, the main plot of the story, however, is about a tough cop (played incredibly by Kirk Douglas), who doesn’t believe in second chances, with a temper he can’t control. As the movie progresses, he learns of a past mistake by his elegant wife (gracefully played by the beautiful Eleanor Parker), which he finds difficult to accept. He is not a forgiving man. Detective Story, is a brilliant movie, with many a sub-plots. Lee Grant is seen through most of the movie, and is well fashioned with a scarf over her shoulders (it’s worth checking out some of cool ties and suits worn by some of the male cast, as well, including Douglas and Wiseman). Basically the movie is, out and out, a Kirk Douglas venture. He is the protagonist, the only lead character of the film. The rest are all supporting characters, revolving around the main plot within Prescient 21. So it is baffling, why Lee Grant, won an award for ‘Best Actress‘ at the Cannes Film Festival, the following year. She was no doubt superb, yet she was a supporting character; as was the cop’s wife, Mrs. Mary McLeod (played by Eleanor Parker). Parker received a ‘Best Actress‘ Oscar nomination, along with Lee Grant, for ‘Best Supporting Actress‘, at the Academy Awards. In fact, with just over 20 minutes appearance, Eleanor Parker’s performance is the shortest role, to ever be nominated for a ‘Best Actress‘ Oscar. Like Grant, Parker ought to have been nominated for a ‘Best Supporting Actress‘ Oscar, as well. The movie garnered two more nominations, including one for ‘Best Director‘, for William Wyler. Detective Story lost out at the Oscars, but happens to be among greatest study of varied character-sketches, on film.

Lee Grant in a scene from Detective Story (1951)
Despite the accolades, Lee Grant received for her unique Oscar nominated performance, in Detective Story, she found it difficult to find work for the next decade. In 1952, she refused to testify against her husband at the HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee) hearings, and thus was blacklisted. This was during the notorious McCarthy era, under which the Hollywood Blacklist began, in 1947; where famous people were being persecuted for supposedly having ‘Communist’ beliefs. Sadly many great influential personalities lost work during this period, including Hollywood celebrities, such as Charlie Chaplin, Orson Welles and Dalton Trumbo, to name some. Lee Grant was removed from the blacklist, in 1962, after which she rebuilt her career in film and television.
From playing a shoplifter in her first movie, her last Cinematic appearance was in a film titled, Going Shopping (2005). She hasn’t worked in films for the last 13 years, but she did appear on stage, where it all began, in a revival of Donald L. Coburn’s 1976 play, The Gin Game, in 2013; directed by her daughter, Dinah Manoff.
Detective Story (1951)
My Rating: Pure Excellence – 10/10 !!!!
Nuwan Sen’s Film Sense
This write-up, is my contribution, for The Lovely Lee Grant Blogathon, hosted by Gill of of Real Weegie Midget and Chris from Angelmans’s Place!!
Thank you Gill and Chris, for inviting me to join this Blogathon.
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Beautifully written and illustrated essay on the role that made Lee Grant a star, on Broadway and in film! Have not seen this one in years, but Grant’s layered and dimensional performance is unforgettable. Now, thank to you, I do need to see this one again too!
Thanks so much for participating in the blogathon and sharing your artistry and love of film with us!
Thanks Chris, I really enjoyed being part of it.
I love this review, and it transported me next to Grant in this early role. I’m now going to track this film (or the trailer) down on the strength of your wonderful review. Thanks for adding this great read to the blogathon.
You are right to seek this film out because it is excellent in every way. It is quinessential noir!
I wouldn’t exactly characterize it as Noir, for it’s not exactly a crime caper/mystery/thriller; but it is an exquisite drama, with some brilliant character studies. If this Blogathon wasn’t just about Lee Grant, I would have psychoanalyzed every character.
I still could have, briefly, but then I’d have gone way off subject.
Perhaps I classify it as a Noir because it has the ambiance and all the necessary elements (characters, décor, ambiguous time frame) around the police setting. Can we call it a Noir Drama? 😊
It would be quite a project to analyse every character but one that would also be a lot of fun. I feel like this film is largely forgotten.
Oh yes, in that sense it does have a Noir-ish feel to it. Especially due to the time period it was made, the style it is made in.
In fact, one of my favourite love stories from the 40’s decade, has a very Noir-ish feel to it, even though it isn’t; Casablanca (1942)
And I agree, this is a gem of movie, and it’s up to true movie buffs like us, to make sure these movies aren’t ever forgotten. 🙂
If this was a William Wyler Blogathon, I would have done a character analysis on everyone. This movie is a psychoanalyst’s heaven!! Pity, it wasn’t nominated for a ‘Best Picture’ Oscar!!!!
Now you got me superinterested, do love films with a strong psychological edge to them. So going to put this nearer the top of the to watch pile!
Ha!! Ha!! It’s definitely worth a look!!
PS If this post inspires you do do a WW Blogathon count me in as your duplicate for this!
Oh yes, why not??
Should we host it for October??
I’d gladly join you run one with this film if I can track it down, but can’t co-host.
Ah Ok! I’ll see, I have an interest in hosting another Blogathon (I did once, back in September 2014); so shall let you know, Gill
Cheers!!
Keep me posted, I would like to co-host with you one day for sure!
Cheer!!👍🏾
What a great and well constructed post. Learnt so much.
Cheers!!
I have seen this film several times and love it. That being said, I never realised that Lee played the shoplifter! She really did such a great job in the film, joining a cast where everyone – even bit characters – at something important to add to the story.
You have done a terrific review of this mighty film. It’s such a great film noir! 🙂
Thanks, this movie has some really good small, but pivotal, roles!!!!
I’m browsing around your blog and it’s a delight to read😀
Thank you so much!! Really love your Blog too!! 🙂
Thank you,unfortunately I’m not very active on the blog lately as I’m working on a book but I’ll find a way to catch up😄
Wow!! That’s Great!! Good Luck with your book!!
What is it about?? Fiction or non-fiction?? Now you’ve got me intrigued!! Ha!! Ha!!
All the best!! 🙂
Thank you☺️it’s fiction……a countryside mystery but I can’t reveal more 😉
All the Best!! 🙂
Thank you.😊