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MTDb โ€บ Best of โ€บ 1972 โ€บ Sleuth

Sleuth poster

Sleuth (1972)

โ€œThink of the perfect crime... Then go one step further.โ€

7.7/10 ยท 749 votes 2h 18m pg ComedyThrillerCrimeMystery

#4 of 22 films from 1972 #143 of 2885 in comedy

Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz ยท Written by Anthony Shaffer

โ–ถ Trailer, images & where to stream

Overview

A man who loves games and theatre invites his wife's lover to meet, setting up a battle of wits with potentially deadly results.

Cast

Laurence Olivieras Andrew Wyke
Michael Caineas Milo Tindle
Alec Cawthorneas Inspector Doppler
John Matthewsas Detective Sergeant Tarrant
Eve Channingas Marguerite Wyke
Teddy Martinas Police Constable Higgs

Facts

Release dateDecember 10, 1972
Runtime138 min (2h 18m) โ€” longer as the 1972 average of 110 min
GenresComedy, Thriller, Crime, Mystery
LanguageEN
Budget$3,500,000
Box office$5,750,000 (1.6ร— budget)
IMDbtt0069281

More from Joseph L. Mankiewicz

All About EveAll About Eve1950 ยท โ˜… 8.1 ยท 2h 19m CleopatraCleopatra1963 ยท โ˜… 7.1 ยท 4h 11m

If you liked Sleuth

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The Long GoodbyeThe Long Goodbye1973 ยท โ˜… 7.4 ยท 1h 52m Murder by DeathMurder by Death1976 ยท โ˜… 7.1 ยท 1h 34m Family PlotFamily Plot1976 ยท โ˜… 6.8 ยท 2h 0m ChinatownChinatown1974 ยท โ˜… 7.9 ยท 2h 10m In the Heat of the NightIn the Heat of the Night1967 ยท โ˜… 7.7 ยท 1h 49m The Taking of Pelham One Two ThreeThe Taking of Pelham One Two Three1974 ยท โ˜… 7.5 ยท 1h 45m A Shot in the DarkA Shot in the Dark1964 ยท โ˜… 7.2 ยท 1h 42m Black ChristmasBlack Christmas1974 ยท โ˜… 7.0 ยท 1h 38m

Questions

How long is Sleuth?
Sleuth runs 138 minutes (2h 18m).
Is Sleuth worth watching?
TMDB users give it 7.7/10 across 749 votes, which places it #4 of 22 films released in 1972 in this index (top 86%) and #143 among 2885 comedy titles.
Who directed Sleuth?
Sleuth was directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Other well-rated titles by the same director: All About Eve (1950), Cleopatra (1963).
Who stars in Sleuth?
Laurence Olivier as Andrew Wyke; Michael Caine as Milo Tindle; Alec Cawthorne as Inspector Doppler; John Matthews as Detective Sergeant Tarrant; Eve Channing as Marguerite Wyke; Teddy Martin as Police Constable Higgs.
What is Sleuth rated?
It carries a pg certification in its home market. Ratings differ by country.
Where can I watch the trailer for Sleuth?
Open the title in the MTDb app for trailers, images and streaming links: https://mv.peoplentools.com/titles/9893.

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Best of 1972Best comedyComedy of the 1970sBest thrillerThriller of the 1970sBest crimeCrime of the 1970sBest mysteryMystery of the 1970sAll lists
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Film data and images from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Ratings are TMDB user scores as of 2026-10-05.