Web Sleuth: A Mystery Thriller with Two Adaptations
The 1972 Version
Web Sleuth (1972) is a classic mystery thriller directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and starring Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine. The screenplay, written by playwright Anthony Shaffer, is based on his own play of the same name.
The film tells the story of Andrew Wyke (Olivier), a retired mystery writer who invites his wife's lover, Milo Tindle (Caine), to his secluded country estate. Wyke has devised an elaborate plan to murder Tindle and frame him for his wife's death.
The 2007 Adaptation
In 2007, Kenneth Branagh directed a remake of Sleuth, starring Jude Law as Tindle and Michael Caine, reprising his role as Wyke. The screenplay, written by Harold Pinter, is also an adaptation of Shaffer's play.
Branagh's version of Web Sleuth stays faithful to the original while updating the setting and characters for a modern audience. The film's twist-filled plot and stellar performances make it an engaging and suspenseful thriller.
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