Like I said earlier, The Detective was considered progressive for the time period it was released in. While the two cases appear unrelated, they both turn out to be connected to corruption at the highest levels of the city. Soon afterwards, Detective Leland is approached by the recently widowed Norma MacIver who asks him to look into her husbands suicide. When Tesla is executed, Jos finds himself ridden with guilt even though breaking the case helped earn his promotion to Lieutenant as Tesla clearly had psychatric problems making his confession suspect. However, Joe is troubled because Tesla is clearly insane. It does not take him long to track down the victims live in lover Felix Tesla (Tony Musante) and extract a confession. When the gay son of a prominent New York businessman is brutally murdered, Detective Joe Leland (Frank Sinatra) is assigned to investigate. However, even though it was considered progressive for the time, The Detective struck me as being a little condescending and potentially offensive for modern audiences. #Norma maclever movieThe Detective is notable for being the first movie to deal openly with the issue of "homosexuality" and to attempt a sympathetic portrayal of "homosexuals". When considering how potentially offensive any movie can be, one must take into account the historical context in which the movie was made. Based on the novel by Roderick ThorpĬast: Frank Sinatra, Lee Remick, Jacqueline Bisset, Tony Musante, Lloyd Bochner The detective is sickened thinking that he put to death an innocent man and quits the force.Writer: Abby Mann. Leland then breaks into the office of the dead man’s psychiatrist ( Lloyd Bochner), even if illegal, and plays a recording where the accountant tells of being bi-sexual and killing Teddy after a night out together. Following an attempt on his life, Leland examines MacIver’s files and discovers that the accountant was involved with the Borough Planning Commission in corrupt land speculation. When Leland attempts to reopen the case, he’s opposed by the police authorities. Norma MacIver ( Jacqueline Bisset) visits the detective and the wealthy widow of an accountant mentions that she believes her husband (William Windom) was fatally pushed off a racetrack grandstand and did not accidentally fall as the police stated. Tesla is soon executed, and Leland receives a promotion. The victim’s psychopathic former roommate, Felix Tesla ( Tony Musante), is grilled by Leland and confesses. The cynical homicide detective Joe Leland (Frank Sinatra) investigates the grisly murder in Manhattan of a gay man, Teddy Leikman ( James Inman), the son of a politically connected department store owner. The violent, twisty, trashy script is by Abby Mann. It’s a dreary but well-acted, especially by Sinatra, tale based on the best-seller by Roderick Thorp. Whatever voice the film had for reform back then, seems outdated when viewed today. The modest film questions city hall corruption, shoddy police work, police brutality, cover-ups and gay bashing. “ The modest film questions city hall corruption, shoddy police work, police brutality, cover-ups and gay bashing.”Ī big city crime drama directed by Gordon Douglas (“Lady in Cement”/”Viva Knievel!”/”Nevada Smith”). (Robbie), Horace McMahon ( Farrell ), Tony Musante (Felix Tesla), Sugar Ray Robinson (Kelly), William Windom ( Colin MacIver) Runtime: 114 MPAA Rating: NR producer: Aaron Rosenberg 20th Century-Fox 1968) Wendell Roberts), Jack Klugman ( Dave Schoenstein ), James Inman ( Teddy Leikman), Al Freeman Jr. Curran), Jacqueline Bisset ( Norma MacIver ), Lloyd Bochner ( Dr. (director : Gordon Douglas screenwriters: Abby Mann/based on the novel by Roderick Thorp cinematographer: Joseph Biroc editor: Robert Simpson music: Jerry Goldsmith cast: Frank Sinatra ( Joe Leland ), Lee Remick (Karen), Ralph Meeker (Lt.
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