The Detective
“An adult look at a police detective.”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Detective (1968) - Theatrical Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2011-12-06
Top Cast
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Frank Sinatra
Det. Sgt. Joe Leland
Lee Remick
Karen Wagner Leland
Ralph Meeker
Curran
Jack Klugman
Dave Schoenstein
Horace McMahon
Capt. Tom Farrell
Lloyd Bochner
Dr. Wendell Roberts
William Windom
Colin MacIver
Tony Musante
Felix Tesla
Al Freeman Jr.
Robbie Loughlin
Robert Duvall
Nestor
Pat Henry
Mercidis
Patrick McVey
Police Officer Mike Tanner
Dixie Marquis
Carol Linjack
Sugar Ray Robinson
Kelly
Renée Taylor
Rachael Schoenstein
James Inman
Teddy Leikman
Tom Atkins
Harmon
Jacqueline Bisset
Norma MacIver
Release History & Theatrical Window
May 28, 1968
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$4.5M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$6.5M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1.45x
+$2M net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Gordon Douglas
- Screenplay & Story
- Abby Mann
- Original Score
- Jerry Goldsmith
- Original Title
- The Detective
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 54m
- Production Budget
- $4.5M
- Worldwide Gross
- $6.5M
- Production Studios
- Arcola Pictures, 20th Century Fox
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Gordon Douglas
Abby Mann, Roderick Thorp
Jerry Goldsmith
Joseph F. Biroc
Robert L. Simpson
Aaron Rosenberg
Department Leadership Roster
Jerry Goldsmith
Original Music Composer
Abby Mann
Screenplay
Gordon Douglas
Director
Aaron Rosenberg
Producer
Donald Brooks
Costume Design
Roderick Thorp
Writer
Robert L. Simpson
Editor
Moss Mabry
Costume Design
Joseph F. Biroc
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 18 — Restricted to adults 18 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Detective.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Detective.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Detective
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Detective about?
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.
Who directed The Detective?
The Detective was directed by Gordon Douglas.
Who stars in The Detective?
The principal cast of The Detective includes Frank Sinatra, Lee Remick, Ralph Meeker, Jack Klugman, Horace McMahon.
When was The Detective released and how long is it?
The Detective was released in 1968 with a total runtime of 1h 54m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Detective?
The Detective had a reported production budget of $4.5M and grossed $6.5M at the worldwide box office (1.45 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
Who composed the musical score for The Detective?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Detective was composed by Jerry Goldsmith.
Is The Detective based on a book or true story?
The Detective is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Roderick Thorp".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Detective?
The Detective holds official age classifications: DE: 18 (FSK 18 — Restricted to adults 18 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).