Sleuth is a 1972 mystery film, an adaptation of the Tony Award-winning Sleuth by British playwright Anthony Shaffer. The screenplay was adapted by Shaffer. Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, the film stars Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine.
| Sleuth | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Joseph L. Mankiewicz |
| Written by | Anthony Shaffer |
| Produced by | Morton Gottlieb |
| Starring | Laurence Olivier Michael Caine |
| Cinematography | Oswald Morris |
| Edited by | Richard Marden |
| Music by | John Addison |
Production company | Palomar Pictures |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date |
|
Running time | 138 minutes |
| Country | Template:Film UK |
| Language | English |
Plot
Andrew Wyke (Olivier), a wealthy writer of crime detective fiction, invites to his country manor house the hairdresser whom he knows is having an affair with his wife, Marguerite. Wyke explains to the other man, Milo Tindle (Caine), that he is aware of the affair, no longer loves his wife, and suggests that Milo run off with her, so that he may be rid of her. However, he explains that Margurite has grown accustomed to an affluent lifestyle, and suggests that he and Milo stage a mock burglary to steal Margurite's jewelry from the safe at Andrew's house (so that Milo can afford to support Marguerite, and Andrew can collect the insurance money for the "stolen" jewelry). Milo agrees and dresses as a clown, and attempts to break into Wyke's house, per their plan, but is ambushed by Andrew who reveals this was a charade, done to set up the circumstances in which Andrew can kill Milo, and be able to claim self-defense. Andrew then shoots Milo.
Two days later, a Police Inspector arrives to make inquiries concerning missing Milo Tindle. This officer gradually appears to discover clues that link Andrew to the 'murder', but at the moment of arrest the Inspector's real identity, that of Milo Tindle (who Andrew had not, in fact, killed) is revealed. Milo then insists on playing another 'game', this time involving 'a real murder'. He says that he has murdered Andrew's own mistress, Tea, and has staged it to make it look as though Andrew is guilty of the crime, going on to explain that he has left various clues in the house which link him to the murder; Milo then provides riddles which Andrew in desperation must solve before the police arrive. However, after this goes on for some time, it is revealed that this is yet another trick played by Milo to get back at Andrew for the attempted murder. The film ends with Milo apparently dying from gunshot wounds, imploring Andrew to tell the police who really are about to arrive ' Tell them it was just a bloody game.'
Production
Shaffer was initially reluctant to sell the film rights to the play, fearful it would undercut the success of the stage version. When he finally did relent, he hoped the film would retain the services of Anthony Quayle, who had essayed the role of Wyke in London and on Broadway. Alan Bates was Shaffer’s pick for the part of Milo Tindle. In the end, director Mankiewicz opted for Olivier and Caine.
When they met, Caine asked Olivier how he should address him. Olivier told him that it should be as "Lord Olivier", and added that now that that was settled he could call him "Larry". According to Shaffer, Olivier stated that when filming began he looked upon Caine as an assistant, but that by the end of filming he regarded him as a full partner.
The film is noted for its prop-cluttered set designed by Ken Adam, quasi-baroque music score by John Addison, and its Oscar-nominated performances from Olivier and Caine.
The film was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Michael Caine and Laurence Olivier), Best Director and Best Music, Original Dramatic Score. Olivier won the New York Film Critics award for Best Actor as a compromise selection after the voters became deadlocked in a choice between Marlon Brando and Al Pacino in The Godfather after Stacey Keach in Fat City won a plurality in initial voting and rules were changed requiring a majority.[1] Shaffer received an Edgar Award for his screenplay.
The film was the second to have its entire credited cast (Caine and Olivier) nominated for Academy Awards after Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf in 1966 and the first where all of the actors in the film were nominated. (Virginia Woolf featured uncredited bit parts by actors playing the roadhouse manager and waitress.) This feat has been repeated only by Give 'em Hell, Harry! (1975), in which James Whitmore is the sole credited actor.
The production team intended to reveal as little about the movie as possible so as to make the conclusion a complete surprise to the audience. Hence, a false casting at the beginning of the film consisting of fictional people playing roles that do not exist, as well as a fictional actor credited as Doppler. This "game" not only serves as irony, but continues to deceive new audiences. The same trick was pulled in the original stage version.
Much of the story revolves around the theme of crime fiction, as written by Dorothy L. Sayers (Lord Merridew = Lord Peter Wimsey) or Agatha Christie, whose photo is included on Wyke's wall, and how it relates to real-life criminal investigations. Class conflict is also raised between Wyke, the long-established English country gentleman, compared to Tindle, the son of an immigrant from the working-class streets of London.
Other
This was Joseph Mankiewicz's final film. The likeness of actress Joanne Woodward was used for the painting of Marguerite Wyke.
Reception
The film received extremely positive reviews, receiving 96% positive reviews from Rotten Tomatoes.[2]
Deleted footage
While questioning Wyke, Doppler points out that the clown costume that Tindle was wearing when he was shot is missing, though the clown's mask is later found and put on the head of the plastic skeleton in the cellar. He is probably implying that Tindle was buried with it.
In the trailer for the film, there are the scenes with Doppler laying out the evidence against Wyke as shown in the movie. They include him pulling open the shower curtains in one of the bathrooms and exposing the clown's jacket, dripping wet and apparently with bloodstains on it. This scene was not included in the final film.
2007 film
On 7 September 2006, Kenneth Branagh announced at the Venice Film Festival his new film of the play, with the screenplay by Nobel laureate Harold Pinter. Caine starred in this adaptation, this time in the role of Wyke, while Jude Law played Tindle as a struggling actor. Production was completed in March 2007, and released in the UK on Friday, 23 November 2007. The remake did not use a single line of Shaffer's script, and was considered unsuccessful in comparison to the original.
References
- ^ Inside Oscar, Mason Wiley and Damien Bona, Ballantine Books (1986)
- ^ "Sleuth (1972)". rottentomatoes. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
Sources
- Staff writers (11 October 2007). "Follow these clues to the original 'Sleuth'". USAToday. Retrieved 17 June 2008.