Honed to tense perfection by director Wyler, the film is a showcase for fine, colorful ensemble acting […]. Absorbing and devastating, this Story gets under your skin and stays there. — John Farr

A welcome departure from the typical cops-and-robbers shoot-’em-up that Hollywood so fervently recycled during its Golden Age. Few actors command the screen with as much authority as Douglas, and his memorable portrayal gives this juicy film its bite. — David Krauss

Sixty years after its debut in theaters, Detective Story remains a tale well told. — Edward Copeland