Deathtrap [Blu-ray]

Overview

Sidney Lumet provides another of his film adaptations of Broadway successes -- in this case Ira Levin's 1978 clever Broadway murder mystery that starred John Wood in a triumphant turn as down-on-his-luck playwright Sidney Bruhl. Wood's brittle airiness is replaced in the film version by Michael Caine's smoldering bitterness. Sidney Bruhl is a successful writer of Broadway mystery plays who was at one time considered the Neil Simon of Broadway mystery writers. Unfortunately, Bruhl is now struggling to live up to his own reputation, suffering through a series of four consecutive flops. But then Bruhl comes upon the manuscript of a brilliant suspense drama written by unknown writer Clifford Anderson (Christopher Reeve). Bruhl, desperate for a hit play, invites Clifford to come to see him, telling him that he is interested in collaborating with him on the play. Actually, Bruhl plans to murder Clifford and pass off Clifford's play as his own. What Bruhl doesn't know, however, is that Clifford has some surprise plot points of his own up his sleeve.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/20/2012
UPC:	0883316610022
Original Release:	1982
Rating:	PG
Source:	Warner Archives
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Language:	English
Time:	1:56:00
Sales rank:	908,441

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Michael Caine	Sidney Bruhl
Christopher Reeve	Clifford Anderson
Dyan Cannon	Myra Bruhl
Irene Worth	Helga ten Dorp
Henry Jones	Porter Milgrim
Joe Silver	Seymour Starger
Tony DiBenedetto	Burt, the Bartender
Al LeBreton	Handsome Actor
Francis B. Creamer Jr.	Minister
Stewart Klein	Stewart Klein
Jeffrey Lyons	Jeffrey Lyons
Joel Siegel	Joel Siegel
Jenny Lumet	Stage Newsboy
Jayne Heller	Stage Actress
George Peck	Stage Actor
Perry Rosen	Stage Actor

Technical Credits

Jay Presson Allen

Sidney Lumet	Director
Jay Presson Allen	Executive Producer,Screenwriter
Bran Ferren	Special Effects
Burtt Harris	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Sidney Lumet's cinematic adaptation of Ira Levin's Deathtrap is reminiscent of Sleuth. A great number of plot twists happen to very few characters in more or less a single location. Those that dislike the film will dismiss it as uncinematic, stagy, and talky. Those that admire Deathtrap will describe it as literate, claustrophobic, and tense. Both groups are correct. The film lives and dies on the strength of its performances and the quality of the gasps triggered in the audience from the shocking plot twists. Michael Caine is solid as the blocked mystery writer, Dyan Cannon does a fine hysterical routine, and Christopher Reeve is fiendishly enjoyable playing far against type. The first big surprise works beautifully, but the "big twist" at the end fails to measure up with the power of what came before. Deathtrap works more often than it doesn't, making it an enjoyable if slight experience.

All Movie Guide - Perry Seibert