Feraud
Bartender
- Messages
- 17,190
- Location
- Hardlucksville, NY
Detective Story
Has anyone seen this fine film? If not I wholeheartedly recommend it!
Kirk Douglas plays the "hard cop" role to perfection in this gripping story of a detective's obsessive drive to convict an abortion doctor. In his year long righteous quest Detective McLeod has done everything in his power to gather the evidence to convict the doctor. He has overlooked one piece of vital information. His wife had need of an abortion some years before they married. This doctor is the same man Dt. McLeod is pursuing. As a lawyer threatens to sue the police department for McLeod's physical abuse of his client the truth slowly comes out.
I was anxiously awaiting the moment Douglas hears the truth from his wife. I was rooting for him to overcome his self-righteous anger. He judges his wife's past like he does every petty thief, gangster, and murderer. In his limited way McLeod knows right and wrong when he sees it. His narrow sense of morality eventually destroys him. Only in the end does he barely glimpse the consequence of his harsh judgements.
Although released in 1951 this story has such a contemporary tone to it. Most of the scenes are filmed in a precinct house which gives it a play like feel. I can imagine this insightful story running on Broadway today.
I applaud the actors and creators of this film for presenting us with an honest picture of a man who views the world in black & white.
Has anyone seen this fine film? If not I wholeheartedly recommend it!
Kirk Douglas plays the "hard cop" role to perfection in this gripping story of a detective's obsessive drive to convict an abortion doctor. In his year long righteous quest Detective McLeod has done everything in his power to gather the evidence to convict the doctor. He has overlooked one piece of vital information. His wife had need of an abortion some years before they married. This doctor is the same man Dt. McLeod is pursuing. As a lawyer threatens to sue the police department for McLeod's physical abuse of his client the truth slowly comes out.
I was anxiously awaiting the moment Douglas hears the truth from his wife. I was rooting for him to overcome his self-righteous anger. He judges his wife's past like he does every petty thief, gangster, and murderer. In his limited way McLeod knows right and wrong when he sees it. His narrow sense of morality eventually destroys him. Only in the end does he barely glimpse the consequence of his harsh judgements.
Although released in 1951 this story has such a contemporary tone to it. Most of the scenes are filmed in a precinct house which gives it a play like feel. I can imagine this insightful story running on Broadway today.
I applaud the actors and creators of this film for presenting us with an honest picture of a man who views the world in black & white.