source: Sleuth

Trailer—Sleuth

Sleuth

A man who loves games and theater (Larry Olivier) invites his wife's lover (Michael Caine) to meet him, setting up a battle of wits with potentially deadly results. As far as detective stories go, this may be the best ever put to film. And the cast is incredible. With all due respect to Olivier, Michael Caine steals the show and gives a performance unlike we have ever seen from him. Although he is never a bad actor, it is rare that he excels on quite this level. Although not the primary plot, class conflict is also raised between Wyke, the long-established English country gentleman, compared to Tindle, the son of an Italian immigrant from the working-class streets of London. This is an interesting subplot, because it makes one wonder: is Wyke upset that his wife is having an affair, or more upset that she is with someone he sees as beneath her?

The stars have a ball with this exceptional adaptation of the award winning play from Anthony Shaffer, directed by Mankiewicz. Mystery writer Olivier invites his wife's lover, played by Caine to his lavish country home - perhaps to propose a scheme that would benefit both of them. Ah, but what's the real purpose. Stay poised and ready for thrills as both stars lead us through a devilishly cunning script, filled with a crackerjack conclusion. Both stars and their director were Oscar nominated.

Michael Caine and Laurence Olivier together. Need I say more. This, of course, was based on an incredibly successful stage play. It involves more twists and turns than can be mentioned here. The cool thing is that there is gamesmanship at every turn, and these two wonderful British talents don't disappoint. It involves a plot to get rid of a extravagant woman through manipulation. The kicker is that the two principles are both masters at solving problems, using creative solutions. They are equals and that's where the fun comes in. I have always loved it when a mystery film has enough complexity to have me fooled. Being a suspicious viewer, I really watch for nuances in these films, but this time they got by me. One of the best films of the Seventies.

... very entertaining nonetheless but you can't help feeling however, that to get away with the intent, you need a hard of hearing audience with poor vision, while accepting that gullibility and greed are sufficient to open the gambit. Michael Cane plays Michael Cane, no matter how you dress him up but it's Olivier who steels the show and by a country house pile.

Brilliant film about two men (Oscar nominees Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine) who meet at Olivier's house and go over an elaborate scheme to keep Olivier's fortune when his wife (about to divorce him to be with Caine) leaves him by staging a robbery performed by Caine. The strangeness does not stop there though as the two men each have personal motives and the twists and turns become dizzying as the movie progresses. Laurence Olivier is truly magnificent here, as he almost always was. Michael Caine, only 39 at the time, holds his own and that is far from an easy thing to do in a production like this. Joseph L. Mankiewicz's brilliant direction makes a film that could have been very dull into a stunning cinematic experience that stands tall against other films from the 1970s and all other decades for that matter. 5 stars out of 5.

I'm so curious as to how the 2007 remake pulled off this story considering the particular directions it takes. Alas, I'm here to discuss the 1972 original. Brilliantly played out by two of the all time great actors, Michael Caine and Laurence Olivier, Sleuth tells the twisted story of two men constantly trying to one-up the other with games and wit which could lead to deadly outcomes. It's 2 hours and 18 minutes and not a single second lost my attention. Even more impressive that it all takes place in one house, over the course of just a night or two, and yet the film doesn't drag nor hold up on thrills. It's not a film that can necessarily be duplicated ever again, considering the social media age we live in now, but considering this film still holds up, we never need another rendition. 8.3/10

The beginning and the end of the movie take place on a stage:a mortal feud between two characters,played by two splendid actors ,directed by one of the giant of American cinema.It's hard to speak of the screenplay without spoiling the suspense,the action-packed story,the surprises waiting for you every step of the way.The two belligerents are diametrically opposite:Sir Olivier plays a local squire,full of disdain and smugness,he's wealthy and claims a noble pedigree.Michael Caine is what the French call "nouveau riche",the most despicable breed of man to his proud opponent :worse,he 's still working,as a posh hair-dresser at that!Both are oozing hatred ,and behind the automatons,we feel the tempers rise .Height of contempt,Olivier disguises Caine as a clown!Anthony Shaffer's tour de force is rendered with gusto and virtuosity.It' s a pity that it was to remain Mankiewicz's last work.