In New York, veteran police detective Joe Leland takes on the brutal killing of a young man. Some colleagues judge the victim by his private life, while Leland tries to stay focused on the facts. His marriage, already in trouble, makes the job even harder.

How it was made

The film adapts Roderick Thorp's 1966 novel of the same name. Robert Evans, who held the rights, was set to produce it, but he left the project when Gulf+Western hired him to run Paramount Pictures. The screenplay is by Academy Award-winning writer Abby Mann, and the producer was Aaron Rosenberg. It was Sinatra's fourth collaboration with Gordon Douglas. Mia Farrow was originally considered for the role of Norma MacIver, which went to Jacqueline Bisset.

Reception and legacy

The Detective opened on May 28, 1968, and was a box office success, taking in 6.5 million dollars against a budget of 4.49 million. Critics praised Sinatra's performance and the film's more adult approach to subjects such as homosexuality, although Vincent Canby criticized its lurid tone. Vito Russo discussed the film in The Celluloid Closet.

Stills

Trailer

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Trivia

Farrow and the divorce

Sinatra had divorce papers served to Mia Farrow on the set, after she was kept beyond the scheduled end of filming for Rosemary's Baby. The divorce became final in August 1968.

The novel rights

Robert Evans owned the rights to Thorp's novel and was meant to produce the film, but his new job at Paramount kept him from doing so.

More films by Gordon Douglas

Them!1954

Babes in Toyland1934

Robin and the 7 Hoods1964

Follow That Dream1962

Lady in Cement1968

Tony Rome1967

Original Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (es) and Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.