loading loading...

The Detective Details

1968 Certificate 12
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 98 members

A hard-boiled mystery starring Frank Sinatra as the tough-as-nails Detective Joe Leland, 'The Detective' was based on a novel by Roderick Thorp. Called in to investigate the murder of Teddy Leikman, the homosexual son of a well-connected department store mogul, Leland executes an open-and-shut investigation. He quickly elicits .. Read more

Starring Frank Sinatra, Lee Remick, Ralph Meeker, Jack Klugman
Director Gordon Douglas
Genres Drama

Sign up The Detective DVD

Buy From: £4.93

loading loading...

The Detective cover art

The Detective

A hard-boiled mystery starring Frank Sinatra as the tough-as-nails Detective Joe Leland, 'The Detective' was based on a novel by Roderick Thorp. Called in to investigate the murder of Teddy Leikman, the homosexual son of a well-connected department store mogul, Leland executes an open-and-shut investigation. He quickly elicits a confession from Teddy's crazy roommate, and the defendant is convicted and executed while Leland scores a promotion. But when the widow of an accountant seeks out the Detective to look into the circumstances of her husband's death, Leland uncovers some startling evidence implicating a corrupt New York City political machine; an attempt on Leland's life further convinces him that the authorities have a stake in keeping this case closed. Lee Remick ('The Omen') plays Leland's estranged wife, Karen.

Starring Frank Sinatra, Lee Remick, Ralph Meeker, Jack Klugman, Horace McMahon, Lloyd Bochner, William Windom
Director Gordon Douglas
Studio 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Certificate Certificate 12
Genres Drama
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 03 Jul 2006
Production year: 1968
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (2) of The Detective

    View all

  • Fairly strong follow-up to the Sinatra/Douglas private eye caper Tony Rome, with the former now a New York cop fighting... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
    • Posted 04 Nov 2008

  • The picture becomes a bittersweet last hurrah for the Great Society

    • New York Times
    • Posted 08 Oct 2007

  • Most helpful member's review of The Detective

    View all

  • Rated - 4 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Very much of its time and not as good as the book

    ...but if you have not read that you will maybe be a bit lost, as there was quite alot condensed down into one short film.

    Good suprise ending, good performances from all the leads though supporting roles rather less so. Sinatra is a bit miscast as he is too long in the tooth but he makes a good job of it anyway, and Lee Remick makes a thankless role sympathetic.

    Both the main story and the underlying themes are pretty heavy and the laughs are few, but its well worth renting for the novelty of its aproach to cops, sexually adventurous women and the treatment of homosexuals in the late sixties.

      • jennifer claire from Ireland
      • Posted 13 Sep 2006 18:30

  • More like this

    View all
    Showing 1 to 4 of 20

    loading

Find cinemas


Rating breakdown

98 Member ratings
  • 100
4
  • 90
3
  • 80
16
  • 70
20
  • 60
31
  • 50
10
  • 40
2
  • 30
2
  • 20
7
  • 10
3

Related user collection

Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop

    • The Detective

    • The Detective
    • DVD: £4.93
      Free Delivery
    • RRP £12.79 (you save: 61%)
      • A hard-boiled mystery starring Frank Sinatra as the tough-as-nails Detective Joe Leland, 'The Detective' was based on a novel by Roderick Thorp. Called in to investigate the murder of Teddy Leikman, ...