# Great police interview/interrogation scenes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [November 24, 2023, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617 "2023-11-24T08:26:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2023, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617/41 "2023-11-24T21:56:16Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > An even better interrogation by Police Squad: I should have said, “Another great interrogation.” ---
**Author:** ![gre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d78d45/32.png) [@gre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gre)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2023, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617/42 "2023-11-25T02:04:05Z")
In _The Kids in the Hall_, there is a series of interrogation scenes through season 5 episodes 1 and 2. “Did you kill that guy?” “Nope.” “Damn, this guy’s tough.” ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2023, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617/43 "2023-11-25T03:10:39Z")
Muppets most wanted [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CpXEfNU8Qwk/hqdefault.jpg "Interrogation Song (Extended Version) - Muppets Most Wanted") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpXEfNU8Qwk&t=1s/) ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2023, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617/44 "2023-11-25T04:01:44Z")
Also consider the **Basic Lupine Urology** episode of _Community_, a straight-up spoof of _Law & Order_. Sample interrogation: > [@](#): > > Todd: What’s this about? > > Abed Nadir: It’s about the killing of our biology yam. Will you please come with us? > > Todd: But I’m in the middle of making a handle. > > Abed Nadir: He wants it the hard way. Tell him what Shirley said. > > Troy Barnes: Todd Jacobson, you have the right to do whatever you want. Nothing you say or do can be used against you by anyone, but we’d really like it if you came with us. Please and thank you. > > ["Community" Basic Lupine Urology (TV Episode 2012) - Quotes - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2194839/quotes?item=qt1747176) The actual interrogation that leads to the confession is during a court room scene though. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2023, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617/45 "2023-11-25T04:49:50Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > The scene from Season 1 of _The Shield_ where Dutch interrogates a serial killer is fantastic. He’s flailing and embarrassing himself, the suspect is clearly enjoying toying with him and prolonging his misery. But then you find out that it was all just a play for time, as detectives were searching the suspect’s aunt’s property and finding bodies. She had tried to call the suspect to see what she should do when officers asked if they could search, but he was too busy enjoying his cat-and-mouse game with Dutch. In addition to the interplay between Wagenbach and Taylor, there’s the context of the other detectives watching the interrogation, including the show’s protagonist Vic Mackey, who’s a dirty cop. The detectives in the station, led by Mackey, have treated Wagenbach as a laughingstock. When Wagenbach breaks Taylor and gets him to confess, the other detectives congratulate Wagenbach. Mackey does so as well but we can see Mackey coming to the realization that he’s made a serious mistake. He’d always taunted Wagenbach, thinking he was no danger. But Mackey now realized that Wagenbach is a skilled detective and would be able to discover Mackey’s crimes if he ever had reason to look in that direction - and Mackey is worried that he has given Wagenbach a reason by his past harassment. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2023, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617/46 "2023-11-25T05:24:00Z")
There was a fascinating BBC documentary, back in 2015, [The Detectives](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/may/12/police-investigation-of-dj-sex-offender-ray-teret-shown-in-bbc2-documentary) that showed the entire investigation into a pedophile. Of particular interest were the scenes where the detectives discussed British interview techniques and planned for their interviews with Teret. A good slab of it is here: [The Detectives 2015](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gjByaXfc7E). ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617/47 "2023-11-28T02:58:25Z")
I got to thinking about the interrogation scene in **The Matrix** [Interrogation of Mr. Anderson | The Matrix [Open Matte] - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXEUW792etk) Keanu Reeves does a good job of speaking defiantly, while showing his fear, nonetheless. That got me thinking about sci-fi police scenes in general, as a potential source for the OP. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617/48 "2023-11-28T03:36:27Z")
The Evil Voice! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/5cFzABv0xMU/hqdefault.jpg "That Mitchell and Webb Look - the evil voice") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cFzABv0xMU) ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617/49 "2023-11-28T14:58:37Z")
Jack Webb and Johnny Carson: > **[The Clapper Caper](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOJGlhw5Jbo%2F)** > > The legendary sketch on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson with Johnny and TV's Dragnet's Jack Webb, performed on February 20, 1968. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617/50 "2023-11-28T16:07:31Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > I only saw this once, many years ago, and I don’t know how easily available it is, but this psychological thriller is almost entirely a police interview, with numerous twists and turns. > > [The Interview (1998) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120714/?ref_=fn_al_tt_4) That is _exactly_ what I was going to recommend! It’s been a long while since I’ve seen it, but that film is one long incredible interrogation scene. Unfortunately it doesn’t appear to be streaming anywhere. I think I have it on a PAL DVD from way back. > [@Stanislaus](#): > > Each episode of _Criminal_ has a new suspect in the room, and we follow the team of detectives between the room, the other side of the double-mirror, and the corridor between the two. The first episode of the UK version has David Tennant as the close-lipped suspect. Thanks for the recommendation! Just added that onto my Netflix watch list. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617/51 "2023-11-28T17:24:15Z")
Well, you would recommend that, wouldn’t you… 😏 ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617/52 "2023-11-28T18:24:10Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > That is _exactly_ what I was going to recommend! Not surprising, considering your avatar! ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617/53 "2023-11-28T18:52:31Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > Well, you would recommend that, wouldn’t you… 😏 > [@commasense](#): > > > [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > > > That is _exactly_ what I was going to recommend! > > Not surprising, considering your avatar! 😁 Indeed! ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617/54 "2023-11-28T19:11:01Z")
OP needs to check out Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) in the hot seat in _The Interview_, an often overlooked Australian film well worth your time. The entire film is him in a chair in an interrogation room, and your feelings about the man will change as the interrogation goes on. ETA: HA! It’s be recommended also by The Eyebrows of Doom himself!!! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617/55 "2023-11-28T19:41:28Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > That movie is hot garbage. I’m not a stickler for details, but even I was rolling my eyes at the shoddy police work. Yep. and they _would_ stop her from smoking. Not to mention, you dont get to be up on a stage. To be realistic, the true “best” realistic interrogation would be: “Ok scum, explain this…” “I want to speak to my lawyer”. end. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617/56 "2023-11-28T20:01:27Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > “Ok scum, explain this…” > > “I want to speak to my lawyer”. Ha! Yet as often as you see this in media, you’d think more people would lawyer up rather than subject themselves to endless police interrogations. ---
**Author:** ![TwoCarrotSnowman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twocarrotsnowman/32/15879_2.png) [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617/57 "2023-12-03T13:39:37Z")
Line of Duty has already been mentioned, but I wanted to add that the interrogation scenes have become a kind of hallmark of the show. They are famously shot in one continuous take - and in the most recent series there was one 15 minutes long. ---
**Author:** ![TwoCarrotSnowman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twocarrotsnowman/32/15879_2.png) [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617/58 "2023-12-03T13:42:14Z")
It seems to back this year - or at least the BBC are trailing something with the same name and premise. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617/59 "2023-12-03T15:46:03Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > That movie is hot garbage. I’m not a stickler for details, but even I was rolling my eyes at the shoddy police work. The movie as a whole is certainly garbage. However, the shoddy police work is the point of that scene. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617/60 "2023-12-03T16:44:16Z")
Oh, that’s comforting. Someone recommended that film to me because I write romantic thrillers. That’s… not what I do. These movies tend to have sex-negative messaging and a good bit of misogyny. I can’t remember too much about **Basic Instinct** , but I remember the sex scenes being pretty cringe. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-police-interview-interrogation-scenes/993617.md?page=4)