The Detective
The Detective

Movie spotlight

The Detective

1966
Movie
101 min
Cantonese

Ho Pui-lan was the secretary of the writer Wu Him, but she died suddenly at home. Ho's mother commissioned private detective Chan Kin-chau to investigate and found out that Pui-lan and Him were having an extra-marital affair, and also discovered that the contents of Him's fiction were similar to the contents of Pui-lan's suicide note. When Kin-chau finds out that the contents of Him's fiction are similar to the contents of Pui-lan's suicide note, he and Pei Lan's sister Yuk-lan reenact the murder case, and Him is stimulated and hallucinated to reveal the truth of the murder...

Insights

IMDb6.6/10
Google Users79%
Director: Gordon DouglasGenres: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Film-Noir

Plot Summary

New York City Police Detective Joe Leland is a man haunted by his past and disillusioned with his profession. When a young man is found murdered, Leland's investigation uncovers a complex web of corruption, blackmail, and moral ambiguity that forces him to confront his own inner demons and the dark underbelly of the city. The case leads him through a series of encounters with shady characters and compromised individuals, blurring the lines between right and wrong.

Critical Reception

The Detective received mixed to positive reviews upon its release, with many critics praising Frank Sinatra's gritty performance and the film's noir atmosphere. However, some found the plot convoluted and the themes overly bleak. Despite this, it has gained a cult following over the years for its mature handling of adult themes and its stylish presentation.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for Frank Sinatra's compelling and somber performance as a world-weary detective.

  • Appreciated for its dark, atmospheric noir style and mature exploration of corruption.

  • Criticized by some for a complex and sometimes confusing narrative structure.

Google audience: Audiences generally appreciated the film's gritty tone and Sinatra's performance, finding it a darker, more complex detective story than usual. Some viewers felt the plot was a bit difficult to follow at times, but the overall mood and thematic depth were often highlighted as strengths.

Fun Fact

The film was based on the novel 'The Detective' by Roderick Thorp, who also wrote 'Die Hard'.

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