The Detective
The Detective

Movie spotlight

The Detective

1968
Movie
114 min
English

Police detective Joe Leland investigates the murder of a gay man.

Insights

IMDb6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes50%
Google Users73%
Director: Gordon DouglasGenres: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Plot Summary

A tough, cynical police detective, Joe Leland, is drawn into a complex web of corruption and murder after investigating a wealthy socialite's suicide. As he delves deeper, he uncovers a vast conspiracy involving powerful figures, forcing him to confront his own moral ambiguities and the darkness lurking beneath the city's polished surface. The case challenges his beliefs about justice and the nature of evil.

Critical Reception

Upon its release, 'The Detective' received mixed reviews, with many critics praising Frank Sinatra's gritty performance and the film's noir atmosphere. However, some found the plot convoluted and overly bleak. Audiences were generally divided, with some appreciating its mature themes and others finding it too dark.

What Reviewers Say

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

  • Noted for its dark, noir-inspired atmosphere and exploration of corruption.

  • Criticized by some for a complex and sometimes convoluted plot.

Google audience: Google users generally appreciated the film's gritty realism and Sinatra's performance, finding it an engaging, albeit dark, crime drama. Some found the plot's twists and turns to be a highlight, while others felt it was occasionally hard to follow.

Fun Fact

The film was based on the 1966 novel of the same name by Roderick Thorp, who also wrote 'Nothing Lasts Forever,' the basis for the movie 'Die Hard.'

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
John Chard

John Chard

Joe Leland - A decent cop on a murky landscape. The Detective is directed by Gordon Douglas and adapted to screenplay by Abby Mann from the novel written by Roderick Thorp. It stars Frank Sinatra, Lee Remick, Ralph Meeker, Jack Klugman, ...

talisencrw

talisencrw

As I neared the big 5,000 in terms of movies watched (at least according to my admittedly-crapola memory and IMDb), for some odd reason, I thought of Frank Sinatra, whose films I had seen quite a few of recently, and I decided to check out ...