Detective Story (1951)

A surprisingly dark look at a day in a 1950s police precinct, Kirk Douglas leads the cast as an angry detective who has yet dealt with the psychological damage caused by his criminal father, seeing things and people as either all good or all bad. The cases start out fairly light, shoplifters and petty robberies, but the main story involving an illegal abortionist quickly brings the narrative and all those connected to it into a downward spiral of destruction. The acting is solid, but everyone is overshadowed by the brutish nature of Douglas’s character. 

Oscar Nominations: Best Actress in a Leading Role; Best Actress in a Supporting Role; Best Director; Best Writing, Screenplay