7.5
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
The Detective (1968)
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Leans Traditional
Viewer Rating
Rating: 7.5
Overview
Police detective Joe Leland investigates the murder of a gay man.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Bias Dimensions
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Low
LGBTQ: Negative
Trans: Negative
Christianity: Positive
Overview
Police detective Joe Leland investigates the murder of a gay man.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Leans Traditional
Primary
The film's left-leaning rating is primarily due to its central critique of police corruption, institutional homophobia, and the justice system's systemic failings, which align with progressive values.
The movie features traditional casting with a predominantly white cast, consistent with its era. Its narrative focuses on a morally complex protagonist within a corrupt system, without explicitly critiquing traditional identities. While it touches on social issues, these are not framed as a central DEI critique.
Secondary
The Detective portrays LGBTQ+ themes through a murder investigation involving a gay victim. The film reflects the societal prejudices of its era, depicting gay identity as associated with secrecy, crime, and mental illness, including a problematic 'cure' subplot. The overall impact is negative, as it lacks affirming portrayals and presents harmful stereotypes without critique.
The film centers on the murder of Felix Tesla, a transsexual woman. While offering early visibility, the narrative frames trans identity within a context of tragedy, victimhood, and a marginalized 'seedy' underworld. The portrayal lacks affirming elements, associating transsexuality with danger and societal prejudice without significant critique or counterbalancing dignity.
The film portrays Detective Joe Leland as a struggling Catholic whose moral compass is deeply influenced by his faith, even amidst cynicism and societal corruption. While it critiques hypocrisy among some individuals, the narrative presents a sympathetic priest and aligns with the virtues of justice and truth, positioning the audience to understand Leland's complex relationship with his faith rather than condemning the religion itself.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
The 1968 film "The Detective" is an adaptation of Roderick Thorp's 1966 novel. All major characters in the film retain the same gender as established in the source material, with no instances of a character canonically established as one gender being portrayed as another.
The 1968 film "The Detective" is an adaptation of Roderick Thorp's 1966 novel. All major characters in the film, as portrayed by the cast, align with their established or implied racial identities from the source material. No instances of a character canonically established as one race being portrayed as a different race were found.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
6.5
6.0
Critic Ratings
10.0
N/A
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