Frank Sinatra and his rat pack are found in specific types of films, so seeing him in this dark, realistic detective story seems like a bit of surprise. When you think back to his performances in films like From Here to Eternity and The Manchurian Candidate, however, it’s easier to see how Sinatra might fit in a film like Gordon Douglas’ 1968 The Detective. But how well does it hold up today? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue celebrating 50th anniversaries and 1968 crime films with Douglas’ The Detective.
We talk about what an exciting surprise of a film this is and how it’s completely not what either of us were expecting. We look at some of the issues this film deals with – homosexuality, police brutality, corruption – and discuss what works and what doesn’t about some of them. We chat about the use of flashbacks and how they work in this film. We celebrate the fantastic cast, notably Sinatra, Lee Remick, Jacqueline Bisset, and Robert Duvall. We touch on how this film plays into the end of Sinatra’s marriage with Mia Farrow. We praise the fantastically bluesy score by Jerry Goldsmith. And we touch on the wonderful camerawork all throughout the film.
It’s a surprising film that’s well worth looking at. We have a great conversation about it, so check it out then tune in! The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins.
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