Sherlock’s Classics: Film Review – The Detective (1968)

The legendary Frank Sinatra stars in this tough, tense, gritty, realistic and compelling crime-drama as a Police detective investigating a murder that ultimately uncovers major corruption and takes a horrifying and unexpected twist.

This is one of the best dramatic and most dynamic screen performances of Sinatra’s extraordinary career ranking alongside other greats such as ‘The Manchurian Candidate,’ ‘The Man With The Golden Arm,’ ‘Von Ryan’s Express,’ ‘The Devil at 4 O’Clock’ and ‘Some Came Running,’ to name a few, absorbing every step of the way.

Hugely controversial upon original release, and still packing lot’s of punch to this day, the outstanding supporting cast includes Jacqueline Bisset, Lee Remick, Jack Klugman and Robert Duvall, who are all at the top of their game.

Tightly wound and taut direction by veteran Gordon Douglas, a flawless and gripping screenplay adaptation by Oscar winning screenwriter Abby Mann (Judgment at Nuremberg) and exemplary use of New York locations.

Available individually on DVD and Blu-ray in a supremely re-mastered new release, or as part of The Frank Sinatra Collection which also includes ‘Lady in Cement,’ the outstanding WWII action-adventure ‘Von Ryan’s Express’ and the all-time classic Cold War thriller ‘The Manchurian Candidate.’

Footnote: ‘The Detective’ has an important place in both cinema and literary history. Based on the bestseller by of the same name by Roderick Thorp, the sequel to the book of ‘The Detective’ titled ‘Nobody Lasts Forever’ later became the source novel for the 1998 action blockbuster, ‘Die Hard’ starring Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman.

Stars ****