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IMDbPro

Sleuth

  • 19721972
  • PGPG
  • 2h 18m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
48K
YOUR RATING
Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine in Sleuth (1972)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer2:02
3 Videos
46 Photos
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
48K
YOUR RATING
    • Joseph L. Mankiewicz
    • Anthony Shaffer(play)
  • Stars
    • Laurence Olivier
    • Michael Caine
    • Alec Cawthorne(credit only)
    • Joseph L. Mankiewicz
    • Anthony Shaffer(play)
  • Stars
    • Laurence Olivier
    • Michael Caine
    • Alec Cawthorne(credit only)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 183User reviews
    • 68Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 4 Oscars

    Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:02
    Watch Official Trailer
    Rian Johnson: Crafting the Perfect Plot Twist
    Clip 5:32
    Watch Rian Johnson: Crafting the Perfect Plot Twist
    Sleuth: Put It On
    Clip 3:30
    Watch Sleuth: Put It On

    Photos46

    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 Wyke
    Michael Caine
    Michael Caine
    • Milo Tindle
    Alec Cawthorne
    • Inspector Doppler
    • (credit only)
    John Matthews
    • Detective Sergeant Tarrant
    • (credit only)
    Eve Channing
    • Marguerite Wyke
    • (credit only)
    Teddy Martin
    • Police Constable Higgs
    • (credit only)
      • Joseph L. Mankiewicz
      • Anthony Shaffer(play) (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sir 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 The 51st Annual Academy Awards (1979)
    • Soundtracks
      Just one of these things
      Words and music by Cole Porter

    User reviews183

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    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.
    helpful•142
    56
    • jackmunro
    • Apr 12, 2003

    FAQ2

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

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 11, 1972 (United States)
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • English
      • Italian
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Athelhampton House & Gardens, Athelhampton, Dorchester, Dorset, England, UK
    • Production company
      • Palomar Pictures International
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours 18 minutes
      • Color

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