Sleuth (1972)

Director:

Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Writers:

Anthony Shaffer (play)
Anthony Shaffer (screenplay)

Release Date:

10 diciembre 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Frase comercial:

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:

All Male Cast | Disguise | Minimal Cast | Battle Of Wits | Maze

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 7 nominations

Comentarios de los usuarios:

Classic mystery with dynamite performances by Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine

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

También conocida como:

Huella, La (Spain) [es]

Duración:

138 min

País:

UK

Idioma:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sonido:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Clasificación:

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

Filming Locations:

Athelhampton House, Athelhampton, Dorset, England, UK

Company:

Palomar Pictures

Trivialidades:

'Alan Bates' was offered the role of Milo but turned it down after walking out of the play, believing the role to be "unbecoming of an actor of his stature".

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Milo and Andrew have blown the safe and are organizing the fake robbery, the shadows of crew members are visible behind the translucent windows (of the room that's supposed to be on the upper floor).

Quotes:

Andrew Wyke: There's nothing like a little bit of mayhem to cheer one up.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ken Adam: Designing Bond (2000) (V)

Soundtrack:

Just one of these things

Classic mystery with dynamite performances by Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine

A very entertaining "thriller" about a wealthy mystery novelist named Andrew Wyke (Olivier), who invites Milo Tindle (Caine) - working-class owner of a chain of hair salons - to his sixteenth-century mansion to discuss Milo's affair with Wyke's wife. Instead of being angry, he seems to be delighted and proposes an ingenious robbery scheme that will benefit both men. Soon, the two men find themselves locked in an ingenious and devious duel, but who gets the last laugh on whom?

With the right ingredients film-making can seem so easy. The cast consists of just two actors, Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine, but with these heavyweights, it's hard to go wrong. Playwright Anthony Shaffer (FRENZY, THE WICKER MAN) wrote a brilliantly ingenious script with crackling dialog, and veteran director Joseph L. Mankiewicz (A LETTER TO THREE WIVES, ALL ABOUT EVE), who knows all the cinematic tricks and has an uncanny aye for detail, manages to avoid this "play" from becoming static in any way. It was to be his last film, and what a grand way to say goodbye to cinema. A real treat from start to finish. Highly recommended!

Camera Obscura --- 10/10