The Detective

An adult look at a police detective.

1968 • 114 min • Crime · Mystery · Drama

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Synopsis

New York City Police detective Joe Leland investigates the grisly murder of Teddy Leikman, the gay son of a politically influential department store owner. While investigating, he discovers links to official corruption in NYC in this drama that delves into a world of sex and drugs, homophobia, homosexuality and bisexuality.

Our family guide

Best from age 16

Movie Knight Score

80 reviews

100 Reviewers · 2 · 51%
59 Audience · 78 · 49%

An NYPD detective investigates a brutal murder that uncovers a world of corruption, homophobia, and complex relationships. He navigates a society grappling with sex, drugs, and social prejudices, challenging his own understanding of justice and morality.

Violence & peril: 6/10
Language: 5/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 6/10
Romance & sensuality: 7/10
Scary moments: 4/10

Heads up

Discussions of homophobia and prejudice
Scenes depicting drug use and sexual situations
Frank language and adult themes

What it models well

Integrity and justice
Facing uncomfortable truths

Talk about it after

Societal prejudices and homophobia
Consequences of corruption
Defining morality in difficult situations

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for The Detective. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

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Top billed cast

Director: Gordon Douglas • Crew: Abby Mann, Roderick Thorp

Trailers & clips

The Detective (1968) - Theatrical Trailer

Reviewer notes

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
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, Horace MacMahon, Lloyd Bochner and Jacqueline Bissset. A Panavision/Deluxe Color production with photography by Joseph Biroc and music by Jerry Goldsmith.…
John Chard, TMDB Community

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
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 the private-eye films he made in the 60's, when his superstar status, both in terms of acting and performing, began to wane, as tastes changed in that tumultuous decade.…
talisencrw, TMDB Community