Sleuth (1972)

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 | Lover | Jewelry | Insurance | Hairdresser

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

Directed by
Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Writing credits
Anthony Shaffer		(play)
Anthony Shaffer		(screenplay)

Produced by
Morton Gottlieb	....	producer
David Middlemas	....	associate producer
Edgar J. Scherick	....	executive producer

Original Music by
John Addison

Cinematography by
Oswald Morris

Film Editing by
Richard Marden

Production Design by
Ken Adam

Art Direction by
Peter Lamont

Set Decoration by
John Jarvis

Costume Design by
John Furniss

Makeup Department
Tom Smith	....	makeup artist
Joan White	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Frank Ernst	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kip Gowans	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Ken Barker	....	sound recordist
John W. Mitchell	....	sound recordist (as John Mitchell)
Don Sharpe	....	sound editor
Graham V. Hartstone	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Les Hillman	....	special effects (as Leslie Hillman)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jimmy Turrell	....	camera operator

Editorial Department
Mary Kessel	....	assistant editor

Music Department
John Addison	....	conductor
John Addison	....	music arranger
Gary Hughes	....	music arranger: songs (uncredited)

Other crew
Elaine Schreyeck	....	continuity
Allan B. Schwartz	....	production executive

Production Companies

• Palomar Pictures (I) (as Palomar Pictures International)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1972) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM-Fox (1974) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (UK) (2002) (UK) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1980) (USA) (VHS)
• Concorde Home Entertainment (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Magnetic Video (19??) (Australia) (VHS)
• Magnetic Video (1980) (UK) (VHS)
• Media Home Entertainment (19??) (Netherlands) (video) (Betamax)
• Nacional Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Video Treasures (1998) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

138 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:12 | Netherlands:16 | UK:15 | Peru:14 | Argentina: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 (I)

Trivia:

Joanne Woodward's likeness was used for the painting of Marguerite Wyke.

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.

Quotes:

Milo Tindle:Alright, I'll do it. Where do you want me to break in?
Andrew Wyke:Not so fast. You've got to get disguised first.
Milo Tindle:What for?
Andrew Wyke:Suppose somebody saw you coming.
Milo Tindle:Here? In the middle of nowhere? I could hardly find this place with a bloody map!
Andrew Wyke:You never know. A dallying couple, a passing sheep-rapist.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Pointless: Episode #3.7" (2010)

Soundtrack:

You do something to me

A supporting cast to die for

To me, "Sleuth" is a demonstration of the problem with the Oscars (certainly a problem in 1972, and perhaps now also). The problem was that, even before the casting was done for the film of Mario Puzo's "The Godfather," everyone knew that whoever played the leading role was going to receive the Best Actor Oscar, irrespective of the performance. To rate Brando's performance above the performances of Caine and Olivier that year is nothing short of ludicrous. All I can say is thank God that at least Joel Grey received the best support Oscar for "Cabaret" that year.

I first saw Anthony Schaffer's play on the London stage about two years prior to the release of the movie. The leading roles were taken by Paul Rogers and Donal Donnelly, two fine English actors who were superb in these parts. I remember thinking what a difficult thing it would be to make a film of this, but I was sure that someone would try it and make a mess of it. How wrong I was!

I note that "Sleuth" comes up as #250 in the IMDB top 250. I recently selected my top 100 and it comes up at #55. This is a magnificent movie that keeps one on the edge of the seat for its entire length. The performances of the two leads as they play the same game a number of times is stunning. Here is the man acknowledged as perhaps the greatest actor of the 20th century, and here is the Cockney up-start Caine (famous for his "kitchen-sink" roles such as in "Alfie") matching him at every turn and often soaring above him.

But in saying all this, I need to put in a plug for perhaps the finest supporting performances ever delivered. Alec Cawthorne, a man few have heard of outside "Sleuth," is mesmerising as Doppler, while John Matthews and Eve Channing, although having very minor parts, imbue every nuance of their performances with ethereal splendour.