A claustrophobic psychological duel disguised as a gentleman's game. Amidst a labyrinth of automata and class resentment, two men engage in a battle of wits where the line between playful deception and lethal reality dissolves.
Sleuth
"Think of the perfect crime... Then go one step further."
Director:
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Cast:
Laurence Olivier, Michael Caine
Crime
Thriller
Mystery
Budget:
$3,500,000
Box Office:
$5,750,000
Sleuth - Easter Eggs & Hidden Details
Easter Eggs
Alec Cawthorne
The credited actor for Inspector Doppler does not exist. The name is a fictional creation inserted into the credits and promotional material to preserve the twist that Doppler is actually Milo Tindle in heavy makeup.
Satire of Detective Fiction
The film is filled with meta-references to the genre. Wyke's novels (e.g., 'The Body in the Tennis Court') and his dialogue mock the tropes of Agatha Christie and S.S. Van Dine, specifically the 'fair play' rules which the film itself proceeds to break.