- Format: PAL
- Language English
- Subtitles: English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.85:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment
- DVD Release Date: 28 April 2008
- Run Time: 133 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B0010BTMCA
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 10,485 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk
Wicked, nasty, delicious fun. Laurence Olivier is a wealthy English mystery writer. He invites Michael Caine to his elaborate country house, in order to settle some rather unpleasant business between them: Caine is having an affair with Olivier's wife and she is about to divorce the older man. Olivier, smooth as brandy, suggests that there might be a way the two men can help each other but what appears to be an intriguing proposition escalates into a deadly cat-and-mouse game. Sleuth boasts a twisty script by Anthony Shaffer, calculated to drive an audience to distraction and director Joseph L. Mankiewicz (All About Eve) shows a keen eye for the telling detail. But the real fun is watching Olivier and Caine go at each other hammer and tongs, a virtuoso wrestling match between two splendid actors (both were Oscar-nominated, but lost to Marlon Brando in The Godfather). Alec Cawthorne is also quite good as the inquisitive inspector on the case. --Robert Horton
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Mono ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: In England, the Italian English hairdresser Milo Tindle is invited by the successful writer of detective stories Andrew Wyke 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. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: BAFTA Awards, Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain, David Donatello Awards, Edgar Allan Poe Awards, Golden Globes, Oscar Academy Awards, ...Sleuth
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
What a work of art this is - everything about it had 'Winner' stamped across it. Beautifully acted by both Sir Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine, gifted with a glorious script from which to work. I loved this film the first time I ever saw it, and it ranks among my favourite Top 10 films of all time.
If you like cat and mouse games, you'll love this film. Not only do the two main characters constantly play mind games with each other, the film plays mind games with its audience, who can never really be sure exactly what's fact, and what's fiction.
A real pleasure to watch repeatedly.
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
SLEUTH is one of those movies that one watches and then exclaims, "Wow!"
Michael Caine plays Milo Tindle, a lowborn, cheeky hairdresser called down from London to visit Andrew Wyke on his rambling country estate. Andrew, played by Sir Laurence Olivier, is a class conscious, game-addicted, petty snob who writes award-winning detective stories. Milo also happens to be having an affair with Andrew's wife, Marguerite. On the other hand, Andrew is currently dallying with a local masseuse, Téa. Both men have cash flow problems. Milo hasn't enough to keep Marguerite in the lifestyle to which she's become accustomed, and Andrew has been beggared by ruinous British taxes. So, Andrew, being a self-proclaimed expert on crime whose literary detective creation, Lord Merrydew, always manages to make the official constabulary look like fools, invites Milo to join him in a mutually lucrative scam. The Plan: a suitably costumed Milo will "burgle" jewelry from Andrew's safe, fence it for an enormous sum, and be free to marry Marguerite, while Andrew happily collects the insurance money and enjoys his Siren of the moment. Andrew is not completely happy about his wife's adultery, but, after all, true gentleman can come to some convenient arrangement. Quite right!
Thus begins an intricate series of role-within-role-playing games played magnificently by these two phenomenal English actors. From the viewers' perspective, the challenge is to determine when the make-believe ends and real life reasserts itself. Thus, not only is SLEUTH an absorbing mystery story, but the roles within roles also create a resounding paean to the profession of acting. After SLEUTH, I don't think it was quite so cleverly done until 1997's FACE-OFF.
Both Caine and Olivier were nominated for Best Actor Oscars for their performances in this film. Sadly, neither won. In despite of that appalling injustice, this is one of those films that I can watch over and over again, and never fail to be delighted.
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
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Astonishingly well acted, this is one of those films that not so many people have seen and you feel like its one of 'your films', as though it were made with just you in mind. Its perfectly written, beautifully directed, the timing in the editing is spot on, the humour is just wry enough, I could go on and on.
Astonishingly well acted, this is one of those films that not so many people have seen and you feel like its one of 'your films', as though it were made with just you in mind. Its perfectly written, beautifully directed, the timing in the editing is spot on, the humour is just wry enough, I could go on and on.
Surprisingly, theres even a fascinating little featurette about the creation of the stage play then the subsequent screenplay and film.
If its out there, look for the other Michael Caine screenplay-to-film 'Deathtrap', with Christopher Reeve. Its almost as good and Christopher Reeve is excellent.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great fun - all smoke and mirrors
Director Joseph L. Mankiewicz must have laughed when he heard his stars were Laurence Olivier, Michael Caine and Alec Cawthorne in a stage play by Anthony Shaffer who had agreed to... Read more
Published 6 months ago by RR Waller
Absolutely Perfect
This film is an absolute gem.
Beautifully acted with a brilliantly clever, twisting and turning plot - I think it has to be my all time favourite film. Unbeatable.
Beautifully acted with a brilliantly clever, twisting and turning plot - I think it has to be my all time favourite film. Unbeatable.
Published 7 months ago by Michael Evans
Paramount Pictures 2008 release
Having owned the Anchor Bay release of this superb film on DVD I took a punt at the 2008 release by Paramount being of superior picture quality. Read more
Published 8 months ago by K. Wilby
Excellent
I had not seen this film for years and wondered if it would be as good as I remembered. It was even better.
Published 10 months ago by Roz
top film
very funny film, well directed and preformed. i had to purchase this film for my drama a level, but am glad i got the chance to see this classic. both actors on top form.
Published 10 months ago by Will Schwier
Great Work
This was very difficult to get for many years. I am sooo glad to see it readily again. Well, at least for a while...
Published 12 months ago by Django
A nice surprise.
When buying this, I didn't expect the movie to grab me much. I only really got it because it's considered a classic, and I'm a fan of Caine. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Zombie Kermit
Sleuth - the original
After enjoying the modern remake of "Sleuth", with Michael Caine playing Olivier's role, and Jude Law stepping into Caine's shoes, I thought I might compare the first version. Read more
Published 17 months ago by John B
Powerful performances from the entire cast
A good story, well put together, excellent script, and I won't spoil the ending but there are several twists and turns through the story that make things turn out very differently... Read more
Published 18 months ago by GillianEliza
Any English subtitle for this wonderful classic
Just wonder those who own a copy of this dvd could tell me if this release contains English subtitles for those with hearing problems?
Published 20 months ago by K. Cheung
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