The Detective (1968)

Director:

Gordon Douglas

Writers:

Abby Mann (screenplay)
Roderick Thorp (novel)

Release Date:

28 May 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

Police detective Joe Leland investigates the murder of a homosexual man. While investigating, he discovers...

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Homosexual | Beautiful Woman | Gay Bar | Gay Interest

Cast

Frank Sinatra	...	Det. Sgt. Joe Leland
Lee Remick	...	Karen Wagner Leland
Ralph Meeker	...	Curran
Jack Klugman	...	Dave Schoenstein
Horace McMahon	...	Capt. Tom Farrell
Lloyd Bochner	...	Dr. Wendell Roberts
William Windom	...	Colin MacIver
Tony Musante	...	Felix Tesla
Al Freeman Jr.	...	Robbie Loughlin
Robert Duvall	...	Nestor
Pat Henry	...	Mercidis
Patrick McVey	...	Police Officer Mike Tanner
Dixie Marquis	...	Carol Linjack
Sugar Ray Robinson	...	Kelly
Renée Taylor	...	Rachael Schoenstein

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating) | Singapore:PG | West Germany:18 (f) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:Approved

Company:

Arcola Pictures

Trivia:

'Frank Sinatra (I)' plays Detective Joe Leland from the novel (The Detective) by Roderick Thorp. Thorp wrote a sequel (Nothing Lasts Forever) where Leland is trapped in a Claxxon Oil Corporation skyscraper after it's taken by German terrorists and must rescue his daughter and grandchildren. Twenty years later the novel was filmed with some changes: the daughter became his wife, Claxxon became the Nakatomi Corporation and Joe Leland's name was changed to John McClane. The film was released under the title Die Hard (1988).

Goofs:

Factual errors: NYPD detectives investigating a murder scene always have their shield displayed, but none of the detectives are wearing one.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Frank Sinatra (1977) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Again

Very Good, for it's time

This is a surprisingly effective movie. I had never been a great fan of Frank Sinatra, but he is very good in the role of the ambitious, hard-bitten, but troubled Detective. The movie tackles some pretty unusual issues for those days, homosexuality and sexual dysfunction.

There is no question that the interrogation scene between Frank Sinatra's Detective, and Tony Musante's homosexual character was cringe-inducing ridiculous, and terribly stereotyped. I suppose, in those days, this was the best Hollywood could do. I give them credit for at least making the attempt.

Frank Sinatra plays a Detective who is given a sought-after promotion due to his coercion of a confession from a terribly guilt-ridden homosexual. Later, Frank fully realizes what he has done, and tries to set things right by re-investigating the case, and putting the right man behind bars. Frank shows some surprising range in portraying the moral ambiguities that run through this man. All this, while trying to hold the fragile sexual nature of his relationship with Lee Remick together.

This movie dealt with some pretty ugly homophobia, and adult sexual issues in ways not seen too often in 1968.

Robert Duvall had an early role as one of the squad Detectives.