The Sleuth (film)

The Sleuth is a 1972 British mystery thriller film directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, adapted by Anthony Shaffer from his 1970 Tony Award-winning play of the same name. The film stars Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine.

The story revolves around an elaborate and often manipulative game played between Andrew Wyke (Olivier), a wealthy and eccentric mystery novelist, and Milo Tindle (Caine), a struggling hairdresser who is having an affair with Wyke's wife, Marguerite. Wyke invites Tindle to his country estate with a seemingly generous proposal: Tindle can have Marguerite if he participates in a staged burglary of Wyke's valuable jewels, allowing Wyke to collect the insurance money.

What follows is a complex cat-and-mouse game of deception, humiliation, and shifting power dynamics, as both men attempt to outwit each other. The plot is rife with twists and turns, making it difficult for the audience to discern who is truly in control and what their ultimate motives are.

The Sleuth is notable for its claustrophobic setting, with almost the entire film taking place within Wyke's opulent but isolated home. The film relies heavily on dialogue and the performances of its two leads to create suspense and intrigue. Both Olivier and Caine received Academy Award nominations for their performances, and John Addison's score also earned a nomination.

The film was critically acclaimed upon release and is considered a classic of the mystery thriller genre. A remake, also titled Sleuth, starring Michael Caine (this time in the role of Andrew Wyke) and Jude Law, was released in 2007.