crime or detective rpg
 

I can't remember much accept i enjoyed the game. I'm pretty sure it was a first person rpg or adventure. The main character is I think a detective of the sam spade type. I thought it was a Sierra game, but I don't think so now. It must have come out in the early '90s and had good graphics.

Deja Vu 2

I don't think it was Deja Vu. It was a pc game, either pre or early windows 95.

was it all black and white and made out of photos from real life?

it was color. the graphics were really good, much like some of the sierra games like laura bow or the later larry's. it was very interactive as far as looking at examining stuff. i don't think the action took place in the 30's, but the character reminded me of sam spade. i also think there may have been either a casino or club scene.

Was the view from the character perspective or from the side?

My bet is on Rise of the Dragon. It's first person, made by Sierra and it features a club.

no that's not it. but that does look cool. it's first person. i keep thinking that the beginning of the game starts in an apartment and i think i remember the character looking at a computer screen.

Black Dahlia sounds a little like that, but it might be a bit too new to fit your description.

Rise of the Dragon begins with the character looking at a computer screen, BTW.

Were the graphics:
1. Cartoonish
2. Realistic
3. Digitized photos

EDIT: Try this list:
Adventure/Detective/1st person -> 324 titles
Adventure/Detective/1st person/Windows 3.x -> 34 titles
Adventure/Detective/1st person/DOS -> 79 titles

Adventure/Detective/1st person/Windows 95 (or higher)/1995
Adventure/Detective/1st person/Windows 95 (or higher)/1996
Adventure/Detective/1st person/Windows 95 (or higher)/1997
Adventure/Detective/1st person/Windows 95 (or higher)/1998
Adventure/Detective/1st person/Windows 95 (or higher)/1999

This one is on Abandonia, but matches very well the characteristics:

http://abandonia.com/en/games/890/Crime+City.html

Crime City