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:

Jewelry | Lover | Insurance | Writer | 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

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
David Pearce	....	film unit (uncredited)

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:

Finland:K-16 | France:U | Sweden:15 | UK:AA | USA:PG | Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Iceland:12 | Netherlands:16 | UK:15 | Peru:14 | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Athelhampton House, Athelhampton, Dorset, England, UK

Company:

Palomar Pictures (I)

Trivia:

The photograph raised up the wall to replace the one shot by Andrew is of Agatha Christie.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Wyke "shoots" Tindle in the head at contact range with what is supposed to be a blank cartridge, Tindle simply faints from fright. In fact, the hot gases, explosive particles, wadding and minuscule barrel debris from a blank-cartridge shot to the head at point-blank range would certainly have given Tindle quite a serious wound, possibly even a fatal one.

Quotes:

Andrew Wyke:The shortest way to a man's heart is through humiliation.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Story of 'Frenzy' (2001) (V)

Soundtrack:

Just one of these things

A brilliantly twisty mystery.

My parents saw "Sleuth" on Broadway, during its original run, just a year or so before this film was released. Watching the movie I can see how it would make a good play, but by the same token, it is not a translation that feels slow, or wordy, or unsuited to the screen. The adaptation is excellent, without "opening up" the play too much. If you're a fan of mysteries, you'll be intrigued by the performances and the script. Joseph Mankiewicz's direction isn't terribly flashy, but subtle and well-done.

Laurence Olivier stars as Andrew Wyke, a famous mystery novel writer. Milo Tindle (Michael Cane), comes to visit him one weekend; asking for Andrew's wife's hand in marriage. But things aren't as simple as they first appear. Andrew wants something in return from Milo. And then again, maybe he doesn't.

The film unfolds slowly and patiently; you almost feel like the film's sentient and realizes how juicy its secrets are, holding on to them for as long as possible. There are numerous twists and surprises in the film; and even if you see one or two coming (as I did), don't expect to get it all right until it's over. It's best not to know at all what is going to happen, so I'll leave you with no more clues.

I enjoyed nearly every moment after the initial meeting between Milo and Andrew. Once Cane and Olivier really get going in their scenes, the film never looks back. They are exceptional in their performances, and deservedly earned nominations for Best Actor Oscars.

So who wins? Does anyone win? Is it a game with a winner at all? Oh just go rent it already!