'Tis a shame about the no policeman clause.
http://www.cgj.org/en/c/vol_10-4/title_01_4.jpg

How's about Rigby Reardon in Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid?

I mean, while we're on the topic of stretching things as far as they will go.

"Woof, Huberman, woof."

LA Confidential, kinda Usual Suspects. Detective as a genre is more linked to film noirs surely? Anyway, i agree there should be more, any neo-noirs recommnded?

L.A. Confidential = policemen
The Usual Suspects = criminals and policemen



And there are easily a dozen neo-noirs listed in this thread.

OK, OK but police, arent they called Detective Inspectors anyway, or is that just here in UK?
Private Investigators, ie Chinatown, that what you mean by detectives, care to clear up my mis-understanding

As was said in the original post and many that followed, we are talking about Private Detectives. Investigators who do not work for the govermnent or municipality but are hired by clients. Gumshoes, Private Dicks, Transom Peepers. Not Policemen of any kind.

How about Out of the Past?

Great Noir, one of the very best ever made. Mitchum is basically hired by Kirk Douglas to find Jane Greer, but he's not a detective. He's just a guy.

So in a Noir discussion, sure. In a thread about Private Detectives....not so much.

http://www.filmsite.org/posters/outo.jpg

Jeff Bailey (formerly Jeff Markham) was a private eye in his former life before he went in to hiding. When he was hired by Kirk Douglas he became a detective again.

True Grit was a good private eye movie. You could only see one of the Duke's eyes, the other one was kept in private by the badge.

Also The Cheap Detective

Re: The Detective Film as a Genre
 

Just saw The Long Goodbye...
Loved it..

Re: The Detective Film as a Genre
 

State of Play gets my vote, if it counts in this genre.

Re: The Detective Film as a Genre
 

Just saw Zero Effect.. it was nice.
nothing we haven't already seen before, but still entertaining.

http://moviesoftheday.com/upload/cov...ct-cover-3.jpg

Re: The Detective Film as a Genre
 

I LOVE detective movies. That's why I picked private I's as my last movie theme of the week selection :)

My favorites:

1. Harper
2. Eye of the Killer (After Alice)
3. Murder by Death
(loads of detectives :))
4. The Drowning Pool
5. The Pink Panther Strikes Again

Strangely though, I don't care much for film noir.

I have yet to see these..

Re: The Detective Film as a Genre
 

I just finished Twin Peaks Season 1.
I am loving this show.. This has to be the best TV Series I have ever involved myself in.

If Harper and The Drowning Pool were in black and white they would be film noir.

Re: The Detective Film as a Genre
 

You could say the same thing about most every detective movie.

Re: The Detective Film as a Genre
 

But do they have to be in B&W to be considered a Film Noir?

I thought Brick was considered a Film Noir as well, same goes for LA Confidential.

Re: The Detective Film as a Genre
 

Harper was quote a "new-type" detective. It was supposed to be a modernizing of the old film noir movies of the 40s. This is still being done. I think this is because it's such a strong storyline