The Detective

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The Detective

1968

1h 54m

Crime

Drama

LGBTQ+

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Popcornmeter

100%

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8 Reviews

47%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

When a gay man is viciously slain, Detective Joe Leland (Frank Sinatra) is put on the case. Joe eventually tracks down the victim's roommate, who confesses to the crime and is sentenced to death; however, the outcome of the case doesn't sit well with the detective. Norma (Jacqueline Bisset), a distraught widow, visits Joe. She believes her husband's death was no accident, but the cops don't seem to care. Joe begins to investigate, and stumbles on a cover-up related to his previous case.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

05/21/2005

3/4

The Detective contains a fine performance by Frank Sinatra, some very good scenes of police work, and not much else.

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Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

10/14/2020

3.5/5

Featuring a compelling and notable performance from Frank Sinatra, The Detective is an enjoyable neo-noir from the late 60s reflecting realistic attitudes towards queer characters.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

08/24/2020

7/10

Unpolished in spots, but it's a major, influential stepping stone in the neo-noir movement.

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Stephen Farber

Los Angeles Free Press

01/30/2020

The Detective belongs to its writer, Abby Mann, and he has made it into the kind of "tough," "hard-hitting," "socially conscious" picture that Hollywood used to pride itself on.

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Manny Farber

Artforum

06/18/2019

There's so much particularity that the film goes from bad to good to smashing and back to good in the briefest quarters.

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Nathanael Hood

The Retro Set

12/28/2018

7/10

...one of the first true neo-noirs.

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Stacey J

@StaceSez Feb 5

Not a fan. It was great to see so many wonderful actors in their youth but the script is flat and there is no collective enthusiasm.

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Keith B B

@Okbullard Jan 15

It was a typical 60's movie with a star singer trying to act. The plot was kind of slow and pretty shallow and predictable. I'd never bother to watch it again. 100%....Hmmmmm

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BetterThanYalls T

@RT63999304 01/02/2025

Frank Sinatra serves a brilliant performance and anyone who disagrees is a hater. Frank Sinatra is the epitome of grand performances throughout his entire soul and reputation. This world was not made for a heavenly soul as his. Only haters disagree

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Liam D

@Mediawatcher2003 07/07/2024

Frank Sinatra gives a good performance and it has some interesting elements but for a cop drama it’s very slow and kinda homophobic

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Ashley H

@ashleyhobgood87 09/10/2023

The Detective is a decent film. It is about a police detective who investigates the murder of a gay man. Frank Sinatra and Lee Remick give good performances. The screenplay is a little slow in places. Gordon Douglas did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the drama.

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CodyZamboni

@CodyZamboni 07/17/2023

Movie is compelling. It's more about character and morals, rather than a police procedural, involving NYPD corruption. Sinatra is the movie, and he anchors it with his conviction. Lots of famous faces in supporting roles.

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Gordon Douglas

Director

Frank Sinatra

Detective Sgt. Joe Leland

Lee Remick

Karen Wagner Leland

Jacqueline Bisset

Norma MacIver

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Synopsis

When a gay man is viciously slain, Detective Joe Leland (Frank Sinatra) is put on the case. Joe eventually tracks down the victim's roommate, who confesses to the crime and is sentenced to death; however, the outcome of the case doesn't sit well with the detective. Norma (Jacqueline Bisset), a distraught widow, visits Joe. She believes her husband's death was no accident, but the cops don't seem to care. Joe begins to investigate, and stumbles on a cover-up related to his previous case.

Director: Gordon Douglas
Producer: Aaron Rosenberg
Screenwriter: Abby Mann
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Arcola Pictures
Genre: Crime, Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 28, 1968, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 28, 2014
Runtime: 1h 54m