Frank Sinatra 's final starring movie vehicle was also one of his best. Based on a novel by Lawrence Sanders , The First Deadly Sin casts Sinatra as Edward Delaney, a big-city detective on the verge of retirement. Beset with profound personal problems—including a gravely ill wife ( Faye Dunaway )—Delaney nonetheless tackles the case of an axe murderer who seemingly strikes at random. While the film isn't as well-paced as the Sanders novel (it slows down considerably during Dunaway 's hospital scenes), Sinatra 's no-nonsense performance transcends its faults. Be on the lookout for an unbilled Bruce Willis . — Hal Erickson