He Do the Police in Different Voices: The Rise of the Police Procedural

• DOI: 10.7588/worllitetoda.86.1.0009
• Publication Date: 2014-04-29T15:54:51Z
• Authors: J. Madison Davis
• Keywords: Soul

January–February 2012 | 9 F ilms, novels, and television episodes featuring realistic policemen women as main characters are so common today that it is odd to consider how relatively uncommon they were in the first century of modern crime writing. As usual with these “who’s on first” discussions, one can argue endlessly about who created police procedural propose various candidates, but 1948—107 years after publication Edgar Allan Poe’s “Murders Rue Morgue”—is year which a definite tipping point was reached. In March year, director Jules Dassin’s The Naked City released. Filmed documentary style location New York City, film begins narrator (producer Mark Hellinger) almost apologizing for its unusualness. This seems today, now we blasé shooting subsequent convention unsteady, handheld cameras simulate realism, perhaps realism movies general, very edgy 1948. Inrapidsuccessioninothermedia, successful procedurals appeared. 1949 drama Detective Story opened Broadway. Written by Sidney Kingsley, play centers detective Jim McLeod his ruthless attempts bring down an abortionist. Italltakesplaceinthedetectives’squad room less focused crimes than price pays marriage soul being detective. June same legendary Dragnet presented episode radio, shaping all forms fictional law enforcement this day. Two later December, debuted He Do Police Different Voices: Rise Procedural cast BBC’s Prime Suspect, Helen Mirren Chief Inspector Jane Tennyson. Crime&Mystery international j. madison davis NBC 1954 battle ILoveLucy top-rated TV show. One Nielsen rating indicated 16,332,000 out 27,000,000 sets United States tuned show Thursday nights.1 An initial look at differences between what often called hardboiled or noir story doesn’t reveal much. hero man moving mean streets, Raymond Chandler puts it. background quest justice, only exact small portion unfragrant world live in. Usually , also scarred hard-boiled private eye battles make something, anything, right. Sam Spade emotional turning Brigid O’Shaughnessy over police. There’s ongoing ruefulness Philip Marlowe’s loneliness . All contrast joyful revelations characterize traditional puzzle-solving detectives Agatha Christie, S. Van Dine, Arthur Conan Doyle. points unrealistic mystery is, late 1940s obvious had become. By focusing police, creators hoped real work solving crimes. showed examining scene methodically, reprimanding citizens cops body otherwise altering scene. We see taking photos, dusting fingerprints, doing footwork locate suspects. adapted true stories from Los Angeles department. Creator Jack Webb rode listened their language professional terminology. “As director, editor, casting chief, star show, [Webb] purposely refrains dramatic artifice,” Time wrote, “and thus achieves different kind effect.” Many used slight; involves apparent theft baby Jesus crèche. There little onscreen violence private-eye standards. definition ordinary processes limitations force resolve question. Note I did not say, “discover criminal.” hinge not...