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Welcome to Movies & Film
Movie Reviews, & Film Industry Commentary
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1972 – PG – 138 min.
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Primary Cast: Laurence Olivier, Michael Caine, Alec Cawthorne, John Matthews, Eve Channing, Teddy Martin
Stars **** 1/2 (of 5)
Popcorn *** 1/2 (of 5)
Film Type(s): Drama, One-Upsmanship, Mystery, Thriller
Synopsis: Wealthy Detective novelist Andrew Wyke (Olivier) invites blue-collar hairdresser Milo Tindle (Caine) to his mansion one weekend. Only it turns out that Wyke invited Tindle to talk about the affair he is having with his wife. Instead of being mad, however, Wyke hatches an elaborate scheme to rid himself of his wife with Tindle to the benefit of all. Or is he? It is the start of an increasingly devious matter of wits, wills, and deception with one manipulating the other with deadly consequences. And when Inspector Doppler (“Cawthorne”) shows up to investigate the dangerous games the stakes get even higher.
Review: “Think of the perfect crime…then go one step further.” That was the line used on the poster for this tour-de-force thriller, and it is quite apt. Based on the play by Anthony Shaffer, this film is a rarity where there are only two actors in the entire film…and they keep you in rapt attention from start to finish! When Olivier’s rich mystery writer Andrew Wyke invites Caine’s hairdresser Milo Tindle to his mansion (where the entire film takes place) all seems well, until Wyke reveals to Tindle that he knows about the affair he is having with his wife. Then he makes a proposal and it’s one twist after another with this detective story intertwining with Andrew’s games and the duel of wills between the two men. The result is shocking, especially when “Cawthorne’s” Inspector Doppler shows up to raise the stakes. In one of the film’s more deft touches, Director Mankiewicz (in the film legend’s final film) puts up several additional names of non-existent cast members to suggest the possibility of help coming. Both Caine and Olivier were nominated for the Best Actor Oscar for this film, the same year that Marlon Brando won for The Godfather. Exciting film score by John Addison. Look fast for a still picture cameo by mystery writer Agatha Christie.
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