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Sleuth (1972)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
1/14, 5/19
1/14:
Sleuth is a rare two-man show that succeeds largely through writing and acting.
I'm not a huge fan of Michael Caine because he tends to be dull in many films, but this, I'm quite impressed
with his out-of-the-box acting. On the other hand, Laurence Olivier...well, he's Laurence Olivier, the greatest Shakespearean
actor of his time. How can the filmmakers go wrong with him?
Sleuth is a three-act play with an ultimate denouement which is a can't-miss. It's the male version of
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? with an endless supply of games,
puzzles, and battles of wits, making for a great pabulum.
In countless films, characters' houses tend to be bland and usual, but Andrew Wyke's is by far the most interesting. By
the way, there's a great twenty-minute interview with Anthony Shaffer as part of the DVD special features that's worth
listening to.
All in all, all the credit goes to Anthony Shaffer, famed for The Wicker Man and
Frenzy, for his delicious yarn in Sleuth.
5/19:
If there's such a thing as grading the difficulty of acting performances, Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine will get a
'10' for Sleuth.
The complexity and challenge of the lines these two had to work with are breathless. How they move themselves while
handling props is brilliant. The mansion probably houses the best and most interesting objects anyone can find.
My sole misgiving of the screenplay is it's too loquacious although Anthony Shaffer's writing is genius. There are
reprieves from time to time when the characters slow it down and turn to regular talk. The movie is better
this way before Laurence Olivier gets back to his usual long, drawn-out description of what's happening.
Prior to his arrival on the movie set, Michael Caine's fears weren't with the material but how he would
address Laurence Olivier, the greatest actor in British history. Upon meeting him for the first time, Olivier said, "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."
Among the nice, clever tricks to fool me occurs during the opening title sequence which includes four fictional names: Alec
Cawthorne, John Matthews, Eve Channing, and Teddy Martin. It turns out to be only two actors for the entire film.
All in all, showcasing world-class performances by Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine, Sleuth is the final
film of Joseph L. Mankiewicz's outstanding career.