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Deathtrap (1982)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
19 March 1982 (USA)
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Tagline:
Join us for an evening of lively fun...and deadly games. [UK Theatrical] more
Plot:
A Broadway playwright puts murder in his plan to take credit for a student's script. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
6 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
Tiff '09 Review: 'The Disappearance of Alice Creed'
(From FEARnet. 16 September 2009, 1:02 PM, PDT)
Xmas DVD inspirations including The Muppet Xmas Carol
(From BoxWish. 15 December 2008, 4:16 AM, PST)
(From FEARnet. 16 September 2009, 1:02 PM, PDT)
Xmas DVD inspirations including The Muppet Xmas Carol
(From BoxWish. 15 December 2008, 4:16 AM, PST)
User Comments:
Surpasses Sleuth
more (40 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Michael Caine | ... | Sidney Bruhl | |
| Christopher Reeve | ... | Clifford Anderson | |
| Dyan Cannon | ... | Myra Bruhl | |
| Irene Worth | ... | Helga ten Dorp | |
| Henry Jones | ... | Porter Milgrim | |
| Joe Silver | ... | Seymour Starger | |
| Tony DiBenedetto | ... | Burt - the Bartender | |
| Al LeBreton | ... | Handsome Actor | |
| Francis B. Creamer Jr. | ... | The Minister (as Rev. Francis B Creamer Jr.) | |
| Stewart Klein | ... | Himself | |
| Jeffrey Lyons | ... | Himself | |
| Joel Siegel | ... | Himself | |
| Jenny Lumet | ... | Stage Newsboy | |
| Jayne Heller | ... | Stage Actress | |
| George Peck | ... | Stage Actor |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Ira Levin's Deathtrap (UK) (complete title) (USA) (complete title)
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Parents Guide:
Runtime:
116 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:12 |
Canada:PG (Ontario) |
UK:PG |
Australia:M |
Canada:18A |
Finland:K-16 |
Norway:16 (1982) |
Singapore:NC-16 |
Sweden:15 |
USA:PG
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Bruhl is said to have written the longest-running mystery/thriller in Broadway history. In real life, that record was broken by the play "Deathtrap" itself.
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Quotes:
[first lines]
[the actor on stage delivers an unintelligible line]
First Audience Member: It's the worst play I've ever seen.
Second Audience Member: I can't believe Sidney Bruhl wrote it.
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[the actor on stage delivers an unintelligible line]
First Audience Member: It's the worst play I've ever seen.
Second Audience Member: I can't believe Sidney Bruhl wrote it.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Frasier: Deathtrap (#9.19)" (2002)
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (40 total)
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The comparison to Sleuth, the earlier stage-play-turned-film, is obvious and upon my first viewing I too thought Sleuth was better, but Deathtrap has, at least for me, many more repeat viewings in it than Sleuth.
I purchased Deathrap in the bargain bin at Wal-Mart, figuring that it had Caine and the underrated Reeve and was worth the 6 bucks. It was one of the finest DVD purchases I could've picked up.
It's one of those best-kept-secrets that movie buffs always are always delighted to discover. And it's totally worth repeat viewings.
Though Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine turned in bravado performances in Sleuth, I was doubly impressed with Christopher Reeve as Clifford Anderson. Reeve, rightfully associated with his now legendary portrayal of Superman, stole the show in what should've been an Oscar worthy performance. I've always felt Reeve was a type-cast actor who didn't get much of a chance to shine outside of the Superman films and a few other flawed but entertaining films like Somewhere in Time, but this film shows that his potential was truly tapped and put to use, thank goodness.
I absolutely relished Michael Caine's performance. He was glib, deliciously manipulative and sadistic. And watching him work with Reeve and Dyan Cannon was an absolute pleasure. In fact, it was thanks to this movie that I got into a "Michael Caine phase" and started renting as much of his stuff as humanly possible.
As for Deathtrap, there's enough juicy dialogue in here to fill up its "memorable quotes" section. (Unfortunately, much of the dialogue would inherently spoil the immensely entertaining plot).
It's really, really hard to talk about the movie without spoiling important plot points that are infinitely more fun to discover on your own. Needless to say, it's a must-see. But for me, it was the greatest and most rewarding blind purchase of all time.
Repeat viewings are a must.
And it deserves to sit alongside Sleuth on your DVD shelf.
I'll leave you with this beautifully written quote from the film: "I wonder if it wouldn't be...well...just a trifle starry-eyed of me to enter into such a risky and exciting collaboration...where I could count on no sense of moral obligation...whatsoever."