The Detective

Synopsis: Police detective Joe Leland investigates the murder of a homosexual man. While investigating, he discovers links to official corruption in New York City in this drama that delves into a world of sex and drugs.
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Director(s): Gordon Douglas
Production: 20th Century Fox Film Corporation
 
IMDB:
6.5
APPROVED
Year:
1968
114 min
1,806 Views


1

- Morning, Kelly.

- Sergeant.

Aren't two homicides in one week

enough for you, Tanner?

- Wait till you see this one.

- What makes it any different?

Leikman's son.

- The Leikman?

- The Leikman.

Oh, Sergeant Joe Leland, Robbie Loughren.

- You the new guy? Welcome.

- Yes, sir. Thank you.

- Anyone been in or out of here?

- No, sir, just our men.

Good. Let's keep it that way. Where is it?

Second floor.

Landlady found him 20 minutes ago.

Let's go.

I hear you're the best detective in town.

[CHUCKLES]

- How bad is it?

- I don't know, sergeant.

I just got here a few

minutes before you did.

Careful.

ROBBIE:

My God.

- I think I'm gonna be sick.

- No, you're not.

You're gonna tense your muscles

and get out the notebook.

Male Caucasian lying nude on floor.

Penis cut off. Lying on

floor of living room.

Side of skull smashed in.

Cuts on face and chest.

Fingers shredded.

Index and thumb of right hand missing.

- Hi, Joe.

- Doc.

- Hi, sarge.

- Schoenstein.

Take pictures of that thing.

Then fish it up, put it in the corner

where nobody will kick it around.

What kind of work is this

for a nice Jewish boy?

- Anything yet, Curran?

- Not so far.

- How about you fellas? Find anything?

- Zero.

- Mercidis?

- Yeah?

Take a walk for four blocks

and look in all the garbage cans.

- What are we looking for?

- A couple of fingers and/or a knife.

Nestor, you try the same thing on the roof,

will you?

- This is Robbie Loughren. Nestor, Mercidis.

- Hi.

[SCRAPING NOISES]

What do you suppose that is?

- Salt?

- Sand.

Put some of it in here.

I want a lab report on that.

Get me a lab report on everything

in this medicine cabinet too.

Also those semen stains on the sheets.

Weights. Barbell.

Mineral oil.

- Take this along with the other stuff, will you?

- All right.

Robbie, check those clothes.

Anything you find in those pockets,

bring downtown with you.

Stay with it, Max.

Well, doc?

Junior there was a homosexual.

Looks like he was a leader.

What'd you find?

Mutilations were caused

by some kind of knife.

- What killed him though?

- The blows on the head.

He was struck five, six times, maybe more.

Lovers' quarrel. This is

the way they settled it.

Takes all kinds, doctor.

They don't disturb you?

I got my own bag-

Twenty years, they still disturb

the hell out of me.

It's an interesting comment.

When can I get the lab report?

- Late this evening or early tomorrow.

- Okay.

- Sergeant, I got a girl outside. Lives upstairs.

- Yeah?

Landlady said she saw a lot of Leikman.

Okay. Thanks, doc.

Miss Linjack? Sergeant Joe Leland.

- What can I do for you?

- We'd like to ask you a few questions.

- What is it?

- It's about Mr. Leikman.

Teddy? Did something happen to Teddy?

He's dead.

Dead?

- You've been out all night?

- Yes.

Tell me, what happened?

- Somebody killed him.

- Killed him?

No, you don't wanna go in there.

- Would you like to help us'?

- I don't know anything.

What was your relationship to Mr. Leikman?

He needed someone to take out to parties...

so it would look all right.

- What did you get out of it?

- I knew he was gay, but he was civilized.

And he had a bit of wit, which is

more than I can say for most people.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Do you know if he had any other friends

of a similar persuasion?

- His roommate.

- Roommate? Did you say roommate?

Teddy took in a roommate last week.

What made you sure he was a roommate?

I came down to Teddy's apartment

to find out what time we were going out...

and another man came to the door.

I told Teddy I was sorry to disturb him...

and he said it was just his roommate.

- What was his name?

- Teddy didn't say.

Can you describe this roommate?

Um...

He was an unsavory character.

Medium build. Long

sideburns, like an actor.

- Color hair?

- Black.

Age, approximately?

Late 20s, 30. It's hard to tell.

Robbie, get out a John Doe.

Wanted for questioning

in connection with a homicide.

Also, send it to the state and county

police. He may be on the road.

Anything else you can remember,

Miss Linjack? Anything at all?

No.

You don't seem to be feeling much grief

over the death of your friend Teddy.

If I am, I'm not showing it.

That's clear, isn't it?

Ahem. We have a sketch artist downtown.

You could help with your description.

- Would you mind?

- May I change my clothes?

Of course. Officer Tanner

will stay with you.

- Thank you, I can get there on my own.

- Officer Tanner will stay with you.

Cop-hater.

- I like her.

- What's there to like?

I like the way

she stuck up for her friend Teddy.

I think I also like her

because she's a cop-hater.

MAN:

All right! Out of my way!

Get outta here. Out of my way.

Who's in charge here?

- Oh. It's you.

- I was only following your orders.

It's all right, Kelly.

I'll take responsibility.

Only people with official business are

allowed, Mr. Councilman. How'd you get by?

Listen, I have a badge

from the sheriff's office.

- It doesn't work here.

- No one's ever stopped me before.

Mr. Davis, every time you give everything you

know to the papers, it's not helpful to us.

Do you know the rising rate of crime here?

Do you know what the statistics are?

Some of us want to do something.

Do you realize?

You picked a lousy spot

for a campaign speech.

- I'm going in.

- No, you're not.

Kelly, show Mr. Councilman outside.

If he gives you any trouble,

run him downtown.

You bastard.

I'm gonna talk to the mayor about you.

- Hey. Captain Farrell wants to see you.

- Figures.

MAN:
What's your name?

- Sidney.

- You ever been arrested before?

- No.

- You live in this neighborhood?

- Yes.

- You like to play ball?

- Yeah.

Well, you can't do much

ball-playing in jail.

You want me to tell your mother

and father about this?

You know a cop when you see one?

You got me a good customer.

Listen, officer, tell the judge

I asked you for 50 instead of 25.

I don't wanna ruin my reputation.

Sure. Sure.

You, what's your name?

- Do you want to see me?

- Yeah.

Was this Davis thing necessary?

Do we have to play patsy

for every bum who runs for re-election?

- Was it necessary?

- No, it wasn't necessary.

Well, why don't you go down

and tell him you're sorry?

Would you like to have my badge first?

You're dealing with the murder of the son of

one of the most successful men in this city.

Headquarters won't hesitate to shake up

this whole department.

You got everybody's ass in a sling.

Mine included.

You have to take it from those bastards.

I don't have to.

I know. I know.

Nothing matters to you.

Nothing but your goddamn dignity.

Well, you can take your

dignity out for a walk!

- Is that all, captain?

- Yeah. Just get the hell out of here!

Yes, sir.

Hello.

- Who are you looking for? Oh.

- The hostess, I presume.

Karen, it's for you. Somebody interesting.

- Hello, Joe.

- Hi.

- Can I get you a drink?

- Oh, I know what he likes.

Come on.

- Mike, that's Joe Leland.

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Abby Mann

Abby Mann (December 1, 1927 – March 25, 2008) was an American film writer and producer. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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