Postwar Crime Procedurals: The System on Trial (with Foster Hirsch)

What happens when American cinema stops looking at crime from the outside and puts the institution itself on trial? Postwar Crime Procedurals—the final entry in the Cinema Scope postwar miniseries—traces the mode from Jules Dassin's The Naked City through Sidney Lumet's 12 Angry Men to Richard Brooks' In Cold Blood, joined by Brooklyn College Professor Foster Hirsch, author of Hollywood and the Movies of the Fifties.Andy Nelson and Foster trace how the semi-documentary mode emerged from wartime filmmaking and Italian neorealism, how the Hays Code shaped its institutional faith, and why the visual grammar that celebrated police efficiency in 1948 became the frame for In Cold Blood's indictment of capital punishment. Foster argues for several overlooked titles and calls In Cold Blood an American masterpiece still lacking the reputation it deserves. Cinema Scope is part of the TruStory FM network.🎥 Watch Our Full Conversation on YouTube📍 All episode links and resourcesWant early access and more? Become a member of The Next Reel Family of Film Shows—and always know what to watch next. Members stay ahead with early access to every episode, an ad-free private feed, the full eleven-film discussion including Boomerang!, Riot in Cell Block 11, Night People, Trial, and The Phenix City Story, and a community that keeps the conversation going. How to Listen (Cinema Scope): Long-form, multi-film conversations.Best enjoyed in chapters—jump in by topic rather than starting at episode one.Support The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Shows:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next ReelSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: AndyShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Audible