Sleuth (1972)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Writers:

Anthony Shaffer (play)
Anthony Shaffer (screenplay)

Release Date:

10 December 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

If it was murder, where's the body? [original movie poster]

Plot:

A man who loves games and theater invites his wife's lover to meet him, setting up a battle of wits with potentially deadly results.

Plot Keywords:

Game | Jewelry | Lover | Insurance | Battle Of Wits

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Laurence Olivier	...	Andrew Wyke
Michael Caine	...	Milo Tindle
Alec Cawthorne	...	Inspector Doppler
John Matthews	...	Detective Sergeant Tarrant
Eve Channing	...	Marguerite Wyke
Teddy Martin	...	Police Constable Higgs

Runtime:

138 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Italian

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:12 | Netherlands:16 | UK:15 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Sweden:15 | UK:AA | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Athelhampton House, Athelhampton, Dorset, England, UK

Company:

Palomar Pictures

Trivia:

The Edgar Allan Poe award on Andrew Wyke's mantel is actually the one given to Anthony Shaffer for his play "Sleuth". Joseph L. Mankiewicz also won an Edgar for the movie 5 Fingers (1952).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Milo throws Andrew's manuscript into the air, the Edgar Allan Poe award statuette is on the mantel; the trophy then disappears in the next shot of Andrew, only to reemerge a few moments later.

Quotes:

Inspector Doppler: Over the years my eyes have been adequately trained to see things for themselves, sir.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Wicker Man Enigma (2001) (V)

Soundtrack:

You do something to me

One of the best thrillers ever.

Sleuth is based on an outstanding stage play by Anthony Shaffer. Sometimes, a work which succeeded on the stage doesn't transfer well to the big screen. Movies like Equus and Dangerous Corner - which were a delight in theatres - lose their power under the close scrutiny of a film camera. Sleuth is not a failure. It retains its stagebound plot, characters and dialogue, but somehow manages to be totally engrossing as well.

Part of the joy is due to Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine. The two giants of Britsh acting don't chew the scenery in an attempt to out-shine each other; they complement each other quite brilliantly and turn in two of the finest screen performances you could ever aspire to see. Olivier plays elderly author Andrew Wyke, an obscenely wealthy, well-educated and devious man. Caine is Milo Tindle, a charming, ever-polite young hairdresser. Milo visits Andrew to ask for his blessing in marrying his estranged wife. Although Andrew seems fairly open to the idea of giving away his wife (after all, they despise each other) he still feels stung by her exit, so he engineers a cruel game to humiliate Milo. But who is playing a trick on who?

The dialogue is terrific, but it needed terrific actors to get the best out of it. Caine and Oloivier do a fine job. Ken Adams' set design turns Olivier's gorgeous palatial house into a dazzling mansion of madness. The tinkly music by John Addison creates a playful yet ever-so-slightly uncomfortable mood. Joseph L. Mankiewicz directs perfectly, getting maximum suspense from his staging of scenes and thoughtful choice of camera angles. The twists are superbly disguised, especially the awesome "shock" climax which will blow you away. See Sleuth - it's one of the best!