The Detective (1968)
Picture: B Sound:
B- Extras: C+ Film: B+
Considered shocking at the time of its release, but mild by
today's standards, The Detective was a groundbreaking
film in the late 1960s because it was one of the first to deal with the once
taboo subjects of homosexuality and nymphomania. While it no longer
has the lurid shock effect it did 37 years ago, the film still holds up as an
absorbing police procedural that's well-grounded in day-to-day police
work. It's also the best of the three films Frank Sinatra starred in for
journeyman director Gordon Douglas in 1967-68 (the others being Tony Rome
and its sequel Lady in Cement, both elsewhere on this site),
and arguably ranks as one of Sinatra's five best films period.
Based on the novel by Roderick Thorp, The Detective was
adapted for the screen by Abby Mann, who would later create Lt. Theo Kojak in
the made-for-television movie The Marcus Nelson Murders (1973),
which spawned the popular police series Kojak. And
you'll notice some glaring similarities between Lt. Theo Kojak and the
dedicated, incorruptible police officer Frank Sinatra portrays in The
Detective. Sinatra stars as Joe Leland, whose dedication and righteousness
often alienates him from politicians and the lesser-principled cops in his
own department. His only professional
liability is the inability to kiss up to his superiors. In the film, things intensify between Leland
and his fellow cops during the investigation into the gruesome murder of a
homosexual. Another major source of
frustration for Leland is his sexually loose wife (Lee Remick), who can't stop
sleeping around even after they're married.
Filled with great dialogue that might have been gasp inducing in
1968, it seems cleverly suggestive now, but holds up because the screenplay is
so intelligent. Mann obviously has a liberal point of view, but doesn't
pound you over the head with it. The film also benefits from an
outstanding supporting cast that includes Jacqueline Bisset, Robert Duvall, Jack
Klugman, Ralph Meeker, Horace McMahon, Lloyd Bochner, Tony Musante, Al Freeman
Jr., William Windom and Tom Atkins. And Jerry Goldsmith contributes
another memorable musical score that perfectly captures the film's mood.
A moderate hit in the summer of '68 that deserved to
do even better, The Detective has finally arrived on DVD
in an anamorphic 2.35 x 1 widescreen transfer, and the overall picture
quality is an improvement over the old 12” widescreen LaserDisc edition.
The only obvious visual imperfection on the DVD is the vertical black
lines present during one scene of Sinatra driving -- these
vertical lines were also noticeable on the LaserDisc, so the same source print
is being used. Hopefully, a new print
will be struck when it comes time for a digital HD version of the film.
The Dolby Digital 4.0 Stereo sound is not a bad mix, with this
kind of configuration usually surfacing in Fox scope productions. This is the way to play it back, as the
Dolby 2.0 Mono sound quality is just average, though, and you may have to play
this DVD a little louder than normal to properly hear all the dialogue. Extras include the original theatrical
trailer as well as trailers for other late '60s films starring Sinatra and
Raquel Welch -- at least these are all Fox films from the same era and not the
usual gratuitous attempt to peddle more recent product. The Detective
is an absolute must-see for fans of gritty police dramas, and would make a
perfect double feature with 1981's Fort Apache, the Bronx, another
underrated 20th Century Fox movie release about a principled cop embroiled
in NYC crime and corruption.
- Chuck O'Leary
