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Sleuth

  • 19721972
  • PGPG
  • 2h 18m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
47K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine in Sleuth (1972)
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MysteryThriller

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.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.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.

IMDb RATING
8.0/10
47K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Joseph L. Mankiewicz
  • Writer
    • Anthony Shaffer(play)
  • Stars
    • Laurence Olivier
    • Michael Caine
    • Alec Cawthorne(credit only)
Top credits
  • Director
    • Joseph L. Mankiewicz
  • Writer
    • Anthony Shaffer(play)
  • Stars
    • Laurence Olivier
    • Michael Caine
    • Alec Cawthorne(credit only)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 174User reviews
    • 63Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 4 Oscars
      • 5 wins & 11 nominations total

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:02
    Official Trailer
    Rian Johnson: Crafting the Perfect Plot Twist
    Clip 5:32
    Rian Johnson: Crafting the Perfect Plot Twist

    Photos47

    Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine in Sleuth (1972)
    Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine in Sleuth (1972)
    Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine in Sleuth (1972)
    Laurence Olivier in Sleuth (1972)
    Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine in Sleuth (1972)
    Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine in Sleuth (1972)
    Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine in Sleuth (1972)
    Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine in Sleuth (1972)
    Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine in Sleuth (1972)
    Michael Caine in Sleuth (1972)
    Laurence Olivier in Sleuth (1972)
    Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine in Sleuth (1972)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Laurence Olivier
    Laurence Olivier
    • Andrew Wykeas Andrew Wyke
    Michael Caine
    Michael Caine
    • Milo Tindleas Milo Tindle
    Alec Cawthorne
    • Inspector Doppleras Inspector Doppler
    • (credit only)
    John Matthews
    • Detective Sergeant Tarrantas Detective Sergeant Tarrant
    • (credit only)
    Eve Channing
    • Marguerite Wykeas Marguerite Wyke
    • (credit only)
    Teddy Martin
    • Police Constable Higgsas Police Constable Higgs
    • (credit only)
    • Director
      • Joseph L. Mankiewicz
    • Writer
      • Anthony Shaffer(play) (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    Andrew Wyke is a famous and successful author of detective novels. Milo Tindle comes to him with a strange request, that Mr Wyke divorce his wife so that Tindle can marry her. Mr Wyke is not particularly perturbed by this, he and his wife have drifted apart, and he is having an affair with another woman anyway, but uses the meeting and Mr Tindle's request as a chance to play a game, a game with potentially deadly consequences. —grantss
    battle of witssuspensesurprise endingpsychotronic filmhuis clos111 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • If it was murder, where's the body? [original movie poster]
    • Genres
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Michael Caine was so very much beside himself to be working with Lord Laurence Olivier that he didn't even know how to address him. Eventually, he broke down and just asked. Olivier replied "Well, I am the Lord Olivier and you are Mr. Michael Caine. Of course, that's only for the first time you address me. After that I am Larry, and you are Mike."
    • Goofs
      (at around 1h 2 mins) 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

      [last lines]

      Milo Tindle: Andrew... remember... be sure and tell them... it was only a bloody game.

    • Connections
      Featured in 51st Annual Academy Awards (1979)
    • Soundtracks
      Just one of these things
      Words and music by Cole Porter

    User reviews174

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Deadly Games
    In England, the Italian English hairdresser Milo Tindle (Michael Caine) is invited by the successful writer of detective stories Andrew Wyke (Laurence Olivier) to visit his isolated house. The lower class Milo is the lover of Andrew's wife, who is used to have a comfortable life, and he intends to marry her. Andrew proposes Milo to steal his jewelry simulating a burglary. Milo would make a fortune selling the jewels to an intermediary; and Andrew would be reimbursed by the insurance company and would not pay alimony. However, the whole situation was part of an evil game. When Milo vanishes, a detective visits Andrew to investigate what really happened that night, when deadly games are disclosed.

    "Sleuth" proves that a great screenplay, an outstanding director, two top-notch actors and four scenarios suffice to make an excellent movie with four nominations to the Oscar. The intelligent and wit theatrical story has amazing lines and twists in a duel of cat and mouse between two icons, and has not aged. My vote is nine.

    Title (Brazil): "Trama Diabólica" ("Diabolic Plot")
    helpful•35
    9
    • claudio_carvalho
    • Jan 2, 2007

    FAQ2

    • Is "Sleuth" based on a book?
    • Any recommendations for other murder mystery movies like "Sleuth"?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 1973 (Canada)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Mord mit kleinen Fehlern
    • Filming locations
      • Athelhampton House, Athelhampton, Dorset, England, UK
    • Production company
      • Palomar Pictures International
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,081,254
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 18 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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