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The Detective

The Detective

Crime · Mystery · Drama · 1968

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.

Movie details

The Detective

“An adult look at a police detective.”

1968 Crime · Mystery · Drama 1h 54m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

5.9 / 10

Community rating

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.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Detective?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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The Verdict

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Shadow of a Doubt

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The Maltese Falcon

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Gordon Douglas

Written by

Abby Mann · Roderick Thorp

Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra

Det. Sgt. Joe Leland

Lee Remick

Lee Remick

Karen Wagner Leland

Ralph Meeker

Ralph Meeker

Curran

Jack Klugman

Jack Klugman

Dave Schoenstein

Horace McMahon

Horace McMahon

Capt. Tom Farrell

Lloyd Bochner

Lloyd Bochner

Dr. Wendell Roberts

William Windom

William Windom

Colin MacIver

Court is in session

Put The Detective on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.